The Great Resignation. Some say we’re still deep into this labor nightmare. The global pandemic catastrophically changed how we live, how we work, and even how we die. Many missed the passing and memorials of loved ones due to “social distancing.” Others placed banners on their profile pictures to indicate their commitment to “staying home and staying safe.” Of course, staying home meant working from home, and it still does for millions of workers. Google just announced that it is delaying its return to the office until the fall.
“We’re Hiring” and “Help Wanted” signs are everywhere since the downturn in the economy as well as the increase in government unemployment benefits. Some quit their jobs because of government incentives to stay home and, for many, collect more from the government than they could make at their old jobs.
However, Fox Business noted that “more than 70% of workers said they regretted quitting their jobs,” referring to a recent “survey connected to the so-called ‘Great Resignation.'”
John Coleman, a executive in the financial services sector, recently wrote for Harvard Business Review a new book titled The HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose. He comments on the rise in resignations:
“Many people leave a job in haste only to find that they changed their external circumstances in order to solve an internal problem,” he said. “They abandoned a professional environment without doing the hard, internal work to understand what would really give them greater meaning and greater happiness in their job,” he added.
And that’s the key. If I quit my job, what’s on the other side? Will it be better? Or will the new “thing” or “no thing” be the same or worse. Coleman suggests that employees need to think through all the facets of leaving before they leave to make sure it will bring about the fulfillment they seek in their work, and in work-life balance.
Ask questions of yourself before you make a move you’ll regret, he suggests.
- How do I feel at the start of my work day?
- Do I make excuses for not wanting to get things done in a timely manner?
- Do I feel colleagues and teammates have been sharing bad or negative ethical habits that I am now starting to mimic?
[Read the entire article at Fox Business here.]
Coleman recommends that you shift focus on simply completing tasks to a mindset of service to others. Building positive relationships at work could also make a difference in how you assess the value of your job or of your place at your company. Finally, Coleman says employees should look for opportunities to learn from others who could mentor them, thus increasing their professional value and satisfaction.
Reset or reinvention in the workplace is often possible if we look for ways to increase our value on the team, contribute to the success of others, and demonstrate to company leaders that our work, and our attitude, is promoting the brand and helping the bottom line of the company.
Perhaps, after assessing your fit within the particular company culture and team where you work, it may be time to resign and move on to a place that brings the realities of work and purpose closer together. Get counsel first, though. There’s an old proverb by wise old Solomon about getting good advice:
“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”
An experienced recruiter in your field of work can be a sounding board, at least, to find out what might be your next career move. If it’s in the technology space, give Core Technology Solutions a call and let us walk this journey with you.