Recently, I realised that one of my jobs had to change. I had been drifting for a while and I knew this was the case. Should I be thinking of leaving my job, is it a crisis? I am very risk averse person so yes, it could be a crisis. I do not like change and certainly I have not left jobs willy-nilly in the past. That is not me. I am a worker and I give my all to every job I do no matter how small. Its something I pride myself on. I get a job, I get on with is and do it to the best of my ability. So why is Mrs Risk Adverse (i.e.me) finding it difficult to pluck up the courage to leave this job?

Steve Jobs wisdom

We all know Steve Jobs – founder of Apple had the right idea. In his famous Stamford Commencement speech on 2005 he stated: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something”.https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc That is real wisdom.

Anna

One of my clients Anna was in the same situation. Her job was unfulfilling and it was samey and it was dull. She was bored. In addition, there were issues with the boss. The boss thought they could bulldozer the team through changes to get the results with no regard for anything or anyone who they thought stood in their way . Anna felt underappreciated, unwanted and at times, under siege. Deep down, she also knew her job had to change.

Why did Anna not resign?

But Anna was worried. The anxiety was keeping her in that job. She was worried about lack of income and not being able to get another job. Her partner was supportive and told her to leave the job as they could manage until she could find something else. As time went on, the job started to affect her mental health. Her sleep pattern was poor, often waking up multiple times at night and worrying about the next day. She became very aggressive towards her family and friends. It all came out one day when she was arguing with her partner and in a flood of tears they both realised how she really felt about the job.

But things got worse. She started to take sick days just to avoid going to work. At this point, as she sat on the sofa, tears running down her face, she found my coaching website and she contacted me and we started coaching.

What happened next?

As we explored what had been going on for Anna, Anna made a huge discovery. She realised it was not the job that was keeping her awake at night and making her cry on the sofa every day. It was her thoughts. To her leaving your job is a “crisis”. She was worried that a new job would be just like this one and she would end up in the same way or that she may not get another job at all! Her anxiety thought told her she had no control or options or choices and she was stuck. With some exploration and support she realised that her job was just that- a job. Not her life or her identity- just a job. If the next job was as bad then she could resign again.

Leaving her job is a crisis

Anna was rather risk averse but also realised she tended to focus more on the negative possibilities of a decision rather than the opportunities. The Chinese word for “crisis” is made up of two characters: one means “danger”, and the other has the meaning “chance and opportunity”. However, the second can also mean “pivot” or “crucial point”. Anna began to recognise that even if there were a “crisis” after she resigned- it was a pivot and there was an element of danger but also of opportunity. It was all about perspective.

Did Anna Resign?

Yes she did! It took a lot of support but she emailed me after a session and said that she had finally resigned. She was still unsure but the anxiety lifted somewhat and she started to sleep better again. We continued to coach for a few sessions regarding next steps and how she wanted to navigate her notice period and what opportunities she would be looking for. We also coached on the possibility that another job opportunity may take some time to appear and how she would cope with that.

What about Mrs Risk Averse?

Through coaching, I realised that I too needed to make changes and move forward with confidence. This is a work in progress and I know when I am ready I will make the change. In the meantime, I am working on the thoughts that are keeping me stuck.

Where is your “crisis”-crucial point and opportunity?

Are you feeling that something is not right? Do you worry about taking a next step? Is your anxiety stopping you from a fulfilling job and career? Is leaving your job a crisis ? Let me help you realise the opportunities you have in front of you and support you in moving forward with confidence. https://www.theprofessionalscoach.co.uk/contact-me/