By EDGE Women Speaker, professional speaker, inspirational author, and successful entrepreneur, Suzette Webb.
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Has Your Colorful Career Become a Joyless Job?
Over 40 million people left their jobs in 2021, a phenomenon that has been coined, “The Great Resignation” or more recently as the “Big Quit.” However, with women leading the way, I am certain that there is more to the story.
Many women spend their lives serving and caring for others, often acting as the glue both at work and at home. We fear dropping even one ball, because it can mean failing the people who depend on us most. When the pandemic hit, it gave us an opportunity to take a step back and really assess the quality of our lives.
This exodus from the workplace may have some more obvious catalysts, like burnout or child care. But I really feel that something more profound is percolating beneath the surface. We’re examining our lives, thinking through exactly how we’re spending our time and energy. “What am I prioritizing?” “What will I make time for no matter what?” “What never seems to get my attention?”
This great resignation has become a great reflection.
I have a message for that woman whose colorful career has now become a joyless job, who may be on the verge of resigning herself. There's a congruence that we need to feel with our purpose and what we're doing. And if it’s not there, we’re always going to have this lingering anxiety under the surface.
Here’s 5 steps to sorting out your desire to quit.
Take a step back, a deep breath, and recognize: you are not alone. 40 million people just quit their jobs. Sometimes feeling like you’re the only one can make you feel worse, but know that you are not. Our modern workforce comes with a specific set of challenges and sacrifices that each person must choose to accept or reject.
Start tuning into those uncomfortable, anxious feelings. We must first acknowledge those feelings because they are there for a reason, then we have to trust these feelings. The latter task may prove more difficult, but it is necessary.
Turn to a higher authority. I want to remind you that this is not just a practical journey but a spiritual one too. Many of us turn to our higher power during times of conflict and confusion, and we ultimately trust the guidance we receive. So it may be that same still small voice that is leading you to say, “Maybe it's time to move on. Maybe it's time for the next chapter.” It could also be that same still small voice that's guiding you to stay and watch what happens next.
Be both creative and committed to carving out time for yourself. Over the holidays, I had a house full of relatives, but I still carved out a little time for myself. You want to reflect, reassess, and reconnect. That is going to require some personal time. Being on that treadmill sometimes as women, we can feel numb because everything is about everybody else but us. Now, is the time to reconnect with that part of us that we thought we lost, or access those feelings that we just haven’t made time to address.
Set boundaries. Sometimes we’re thinking about quitting the wrong thing. We think we must move to another job or another city, but the truth is, we need to quit and stay. We need to quit some of the unhealthy habits, the mindsets, and the acceptance of crossed lines. As we begin to set boundaries for what we will and will no longer tolerate, we empower ourselves to make that experience a little different.
Understanding why you want to leave your job may take some deep soul searching. With the changes in the world, there’s no better time to truly evaluate what you want and what you need to experience personal satisfaction and fulfillment in the workplace. Do you need to feel like you’re fully utilizing your talent, skills, and experience? Do you need to feel praised and thanked for your contributions? Do you need more money? A work-life balance? For every person, the individual motives that drive you to show up every day as your best self will vary. The real question is this:
“What about your job fulfills you?”
At the end of the day, choosing to stay or leave an unrewarding job can be a challenging choice, but it is always a choice.