To Stay or to Go...THAT is the Question!

The following question came from a reader who took advantage of our standing offer for fifteen free minutes of coaching. We appreciate her call! While she was asking specifically for advice on a potential job change, the questions posed to help her evaluate her choice can be easily adapted to fit a variety of situations. I hope you find them as useful as she did!

Question: I'm thinking about a job change. I'm starting to feel stuck in my current job, and I have had severe challenges with my immediate supervisor. A job opportunity with another company has come my way. Though I'm in the second interview and I'm pretty certain that this job can be mine, I'm starting to have second thoughts. It seems like a "step down" from what I've been doing and a move into a "generalist" position which I don't mind, but I want to feel certain that the move will enhance my career. Also, my supervisor and I actually have worked through several of our challenges, and our relationship is a lot better right now. What do you think?

Susan's Response: In our fifteen minutes together, this reader expressed other major points to consider as she evaluates her decision of whether to stay at her current position or take a new position that's a "step backward", but that also has potential for providing her with a new experience and new relationships. As she shared information, four key questions and an essential consideration occurred to me. Let's take the questions first. As part of your evaluation of this job change, determine:

Specifically, what are the benefits of this new position to my career goals?
To what extent are these benefits an improvement over what my current job provides?
Specifically, how will this move improve my professional relationships?
Is this new position a "best fit" for my personal resources of time, energy, dollars, and creativity?

Here is the essential consideration for further thought. In our fifteen minutes together, this reader expressed her desire for career advancement and for a reputation as an expert in her field at least three times. She also expressed that this new position is a "step backward" into more of a generalist position in her field. The reality of a generalist position is in conflict with her strongly expressed desire to be known as an expert in the public relations field.

To become known as an expert, you need to apply your time, energy, and creativity to a position where your best strengths and excellence are fully used and leveraged to benefit your organization as well as your career goals. As our reader describes it, this potential job position is probably not a "best fit" with her strong desire to become known as an expert in her areas of strength.

Identify your very best strengths, apply them as often as you can to develop a reputation for excellence and you will become the expert that you desire to be.

Bonus Tip: Consider your values, your goals, and your daily actions. The following questions will help you focus on and determine who you are, what you most want, and ensure that your wants and actions are congruent. Consider all the areas of your life including your professional life, family, leisure, spiritual, civic/community, social, health, education, and financial goals.

Specifically, WHAT is most important to me?
Specifically, WHO is most important to me?
Specifically, what do I love about my life now?
Specifically, what do I dislike about my life now?
Specifically, what about my job helps me thrive?
Specifically, what about my job oppresses me?
Specifically, what/who do your actions say you love and treasure?

To paraphrase Shakespeare, "Are your wants and actions congruent? THAT is the question!"

"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later." -- Og Mandino

By Susan B. Wilson, President, Executive Strategies