Answer These 2 Questions Before Making a Job Change
Does our current reality have you saying to yourself, “I didn’t sign up for this!?” I get it. There has been so much change, so much pivoting, so much uncertainty in this season. And depending on what you do, your current days might look NOTHING like they did before March 2020.
So, does this have you thinking about quitting your current job? Or doing the same thing just with another organization? Or even doing something entirely different?
Before you make any big decisions, there are two questions you must ask yourself to find out if this is the right move for you or not in this season.
The first question is:
Why did you start doing what you do?
Chances are, you started doing what you do right now because you wanted to make a difference, maybe even an eternal one. Or you wanted to make a lasting impact in your community. Or you wanted to help people get healthy. Or you want to support your family financially. So, what was it for you? What was your big why way back when you started?
As I talk to leaders who are having to fill positions because people have quit their jobs, it’s reminded me that sometimes even when we start something with great intentions and a really strong why, the “what” of our day-to-day starts taking precedence and becomes “our thing,” instead of our actual why.
This is especially true for you if your leadership role up to this point has had you leading from upfront and you’ve been directly involved in all aspects of decision-making.
Our current reality has meant that in order for leaders to not stay constantly overwhelmed by leading virtually, they must rely on and empower others more. It also means without being physically in person, there’s no leading from upfront.
When this happens, if the reason we do what we do is because of “our day-to-day activities” rather than “why” we do it, it’s no wonder so many are saying “this is NOT what I signed up for,” because it isn't.
But, if we do what we do because we still care about the “why” that led us to our current position, then that hasn’t changed, even if how we go about it has. So, what’s your why? Why do you do what you do? And can you still do that even if “what” you do has drastically changed?
Which leads me to question #2.
Does what you do allow you to accomplish your big why?
Working from home, or even simply working alone in the office, pairs back our jobs to their bare bones. When the in-person interactions with people have been stripped away, we’re left with video calls and our daily to-do lists (but very little people interactions).
In healthy work environments, the people we work with can be what keeps us in positions that might not actually be good fits for us long term. So, when daily interactions with co-workers are stripped away, you might be discovering that actually, what you do and the outcomes of what you do, isn’t actually what you want to devote 40+ hours each week to.
So, ask yourself, "does what I do allow me to accomplish my big why?" And if your answer is "no," then by all means, please start praying for discernment about what your next step is.
Clarity in the midst of uncertainty
When the “what” of our day-to-day changes so much in such a short period of time, it can be tempting to think that this is not what we signed up for, when the reality is simply that “what we do” to get to our “big why” has simply changed. So, if you find yourself saying “I did NOT sign up for this,” then start by identifying your big why. Then, ask yourself if your current position allows you to work towards your big why or not. Asking yourself these two questions can bring a lot of clarity about your current position during a season filled with uncertainty.