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Tow the line or change jobs?
Answer by Hetal Shah
Jed asks:
The firm I work for is going through a lot of change and re-organisation and I am caught in a dilemna. As a supervisor I am torn between "towing the line" and leading the changes, despite often feeling that things are badly planned and not thought through.I have thought about leaving the company on and off for some time but I only have vague ideas of what else I should do. Also though I no no-one is indispensible I feel that I would be letting my team down if I left now during such difficult times.
I've listed the pro's and cons of work but it doesn't seem to get any clearer or easier.
Hetal says:
Jed, there are two separate issues here – the reorganisation at work and how you deal with that and then your thoughts and feelings about leaving work.
The thing to ask yourself is are they related? If the reorganisation at work didn’t happen would you still be thinking of leaving? Be honest with yourself and listen to your instinct – are you truly ready for a change?
In terms of the reorganisation your dilemma is one you can manage. Although you have tow the line and ensure the changes happen there is nothing to stop you giving your constructive opinion on how the changes should be implemented. If you have ideas to make the changes smoother or better planned you should say – as long as you phrase it in a constructive way you will get respect. You will show you care about where you work – you obviously do – and this will earn you respect.
In terms of leaving, let me blunt - you will not be letting the team down. You must look after yourself. You are your number one priority. Your team will have someone else looking after them and they will be ok. Don’t be a slave to them.
What you need to consider is why you want to leave. Is it because you are not enjoying your current job and you see no way it can be improved, you want another challenge, you want more money…? what is it that this job and company is not giving you?
Identify this and then think about whether you can address this issue where you work. For example if you want more challenge have you asked your boss for more responsibility? If you feel you are underpaid have you tied to address this? What actions can you take to address the situation?
Take time to understand what it is that you are not getting from work and then ask yourself if you’ve done all you can to make a change before you think about leaving. If you really are looking for a total career change then work out what you want from a career and what other things you can do to get them. Maybe you spend the next few months researching what it is that would interest you and meet your career goals – money, status, enjoyment…..
Remember think things through, trust your instinct and always take action.
Good luck
This is question 15 of 41
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