2-3-4 Friday: 10 Dec 2021 - Are you thinking of quitting? 

‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any online newsletter’

 

1 thought 

Are you thinking of quitting? The pandemic may have made you realise:

• Your workplace doesn’t care about you. 
• Your leadership has been found wanting in terms of a strategy of how to move forward, or a vision to rally around. 
• Your colleagues care about themselves and little about others. 
• There’s too much work. 
• You hate the work you do. 

Quitting is easy. Send off the resignation, and then walk out. 

 

But how much of it is about the workplace and the work, and how much of it is about the context of the pandemic? You may be caught in the in-between, wondering whether you should quit. 

 

That’s a difficult place to be in. To be undecided is to vacillate between staying and leaving, not sure, confused, and scared.

Here’s what can make it easier. 

 

Take a piece of paper. Write down all the reasons why you’re staying, and all the reasons why you want to leave. Beside each reason, write down a ‘P’ if it’s pandemic-related. 

For example, you may write, 

I hate working from home and not interacting with my colleagues. (P)

That’s pandemic related. 

 

Why do this?

 

For one, it clarifies the reasons in your mind. Often when we make decisions, we may keep everything in our minds. This makes things even more confusing as we are unable to give structure to the reasons. 

This also introduces an element of rationality to what can be an emotional process. 

 

After you make that list, count the number of reasons why you stay, and the reasons why you want to leave. Which column has more? 

 

Follow what the column recommends. 

 

The human mind is ineffective at making rational, good decisions because we end up relying too much on our emotions, using mental shortcuts to reach conclusions. Over your life, you may have built certain shortcuts from experiences like - ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’… which leads you to choose the safe path of staying with the ‘devil you know’. 

 

But what happens if the devil you know may lead to an unwelcome outcome?

You have the likes of Kahneman saying this. But you may not be swayed by what he says. Then let me tell you my experience. 

 

When I faced severe difficulties with my work, I was offered a new place. It was a bigger role, with bigger responsibilities, under a better organisation, and with a famous boss. I drew up a pros and cons list, saw its recommendation to leave…

 

And promptly disobeyed. I thought I was smarter than it… 

And paid for it. I disengaged from my job, stopped caring, and sat in my own corner. 

 

Emotions are important in decision-making, but you may give it too much weight, and end up making a poor decision. 

 

1 quote 

“The implication is clear: as the psychologist Jonathan Haidt said in another context, “The emotional tail wags the rational dog.” The affect heuristic simplifies our lives by creating a world that is much tidier than reality.”

Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking Fast and Slow

 

1 tip 

If you’re thinking of resigning today, listen to it. Don’t try to stuff it. It’s telling you something about your work. Tuning in is the first step. As much as our emotions may not be entirely accurate for making rational decisions, they can provide a signal above the noise you’re hearing. 

Tune in. Sit and ask, 

 

Why am I feeling this way? 
What is it telling me about me? 

 

John - liveyoungandwell.com - Work Your Love

 

P.S. You may struggle with fear. Want to get unstuck? I’ve helped others to overcome their fears, fulfil their fullest potential, and skip (more happily) to work. Let’s chat.