Full transparency, this topic wasn't on plan for my newsletter today. However, given the news on the political sphere that erupted over the past several days, and since a post I made about that became very popular on LinkedIn, I wanted to expand on this idea with you all. Because if you are human, you've hung in the agonizing, stressful balance of wanting to quit something but feeling like you can't or shouldn't.
Here is my LinkedIn post:
"This isn't a post about politics, but it is a post about having the courage to quit and pass the baton.
The President's courage to step back from the race yesterday and verbally recommend the baton be handed to his (highly qualified) female successor is an action I hope corporate leaders are paying attention to.
I can imagine how hard it feels to quit. So much of our identity is wrapped up in our titles, status and associations. We wonder, “Who would be, what would I do, if I didn't have all of these things?”
In our culture, we make up stories how quitting is failure.
But in my time as a leader, and now as a coach/consultant, I see leaders who inflict so much stress, burnout and dissatisfaction in themselves and in their teams because they refuse to quit something that has surpassed its usefulness.
Maybe the leader:
Is burnout themselves
Isn't using their talents in the role
Pursues a failing initiative because of sunk costs
Refuses to terminate a toxic employee because they have long tenure or high sales
Perhaps what we can learn from watching the political stage is the lesson of knowing when quitting can actually help you gain momentum or use someone else's talents to re-energize an initiative.
Quitting doesn't make you a weak leader, person or partner. Perhaps it's smart quitting that not only takes the strongest version of you, but also strengthens the people around you, too. Quitting allows an intentional reset to improve everyone's chances of success.
Is there something you need to quit so the baton can be passed for someone else to energize it?"
THIS POST HAS GENERATED QUITE THE DISCUSSION ON LINKEDIN.
PUT THIS IDEA INTO ACTION
One of the hardest quits I've ever had to make was the decision to end a prior relationship and call off the wedding. As a leader, I've wrestled with feedback from my peers to change course on an initiative.
Quitting a thing feels hard because it can challenge your identity to it's core. It's easy to get overwhelmed with what other people will think if you quit/move on/change course.
We don't want to make a decision we regret so we google the entire internet until 2AM, poll all of our friends and make endless pros and cons lists.
I don't have a magic wand that can always give you the right answer on when it's right to quit something, but I can share questions to help you check in with your head, heart and gut to make the best decision for YOU.
QUITTING DECISION I NEED TO MAKE:
(Hint: Try this first with a small decision)
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Check In With Your Head: Being grounded in our head center ensures that we are looking at things from an objective, fact-based perspective (not our stories or biases). When making a decision, this is where the data, excel spreadsheets, powerpoint deck or expert advice comes in handy.
Ask Yourself: What do I know for sure? What are the facts of the situation? What evidence do I have? What feedback has been validated?
Check In With Your Heart: Being grounded in our heart center of intelligence allows us to be compassionate and empathetic. It connects to our deepest values. It enables the power of being connected to and compassionate with yourself.
Ask Yourself: What are my values? Does this situation align with them? What next choice best aligns with my values? What choice aligns with the type of leader I want to be known for? What emotions am I experiencing? What's their message? How do I want others to feel?
Check In With Your Gut: Being grounded in this center helps you listen to your body sensations and become in tune with your instincts. It's the place you may hear the still, small voice of your intuition when you quiet yourself and get intentional about listening to it. When aligned with your head and heart, it creates intentional action. It creates confidence in action and decision.
Ask Yourself: What sensations do I feel in my body when I consider quitting? Does the action I'm considering feel of peace or dread? Is this a heck yes or hell no? What is mine to do?
TRY THIS NEXT: Use your head, heart and gut to make a small decision you've been stalling on. Trust yourself and take action.
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