Ted Lasso’s marriage fails. He has a moment when he realizes he’s not quitting. He’s letting go.
As HSSE leaders, when do we need to let go? Here are a few types of letting go. 1) Leaving a company where you don’t fit; 2) Letting go of an idea that isn’t working; 3) Letting go of something that has grown stale.
This week, I am focusing on leaving companies. There’s an old saying that “people join companies, they leave bosses.” A poor manager can make your life miserable. Especially if you have been successful and suddenly you are not. We stay in a bad situation. Here’s my advice.
MOVE!
A little background. You have choices. You can: 1) Continue to be miserable until you can no longer take it, or are let go; 2) Hope you can outlast your boss; 3) Adapt and overcome; or 4) Leave and be happier elsewhere.
The “be miserable” is a tough approach. Here’s a few reasons why you are choosing to be miserable (thanks Alan Collins):
- You believe you can overcome the environment if you just work harder,
- You reject the idea that your career is going nowhere.
- You’re tied to that high(ish) paycheck.
- You are afraid of taking a risk.
- You believe it is easier to stay in place rather than search for another job.
You likely have been taught that quitting implies failure. Fault. Blame. There are times when that’s the brutal reality. However, it’s more likely you had a seminal moment when you realized that change is necessary. ‘Quitting’ is the recognition that a role is no longer a fit.
Before I shifted my career to safety, I was an HR executive. I had to let go more people than I care to count. Here’s the reality. After they were let go, every single person was BETTER OFF. They had a chance to rethink who they were and what they wanted. And guess what? The grass was greener on the other side.
It’s incumbent upon you, however, to learn from your experience. Take a role for the company AND the manager. Worry about the pay, but don’t make it THE driver. Find inspiring people you want to work with.
Don’t wait until you are told to leave. Read the situation. Decide. Leave. You are not a tree. Do a Ted Lasso and recognize that you are not quitting. You are letting go. Letting go is good for your soul.
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