If You're Miserable, Quit Your Job
Welcome to the #shiftyestribe! Every Tuesday, Galen Emanuele emails tools to advance leadership skills, team culture, and personal growth. Relevant, authentic, no spam. Sign up now to get it in your inbox.
There’s one underlying concept at the heart of everything we talk about around being a better employee: Accountability.
You are responsible for taking ownership of the way that you show up, how you respond to and treat other people, your choice of words, and the energy that you bring to situations.
The idea that “a happy employee is a good employee” came up in our team’s discussion around what it means to be a better employee, and that really holds true.
Don’t be miserable.
“Some companies just don’t get the value of great culture, employee experience, and making people feel valued.
Leave. Find a company that does.”
And if you are miserable in your job and you can’t find a way to be happy there, go. There are companies who treat people well, there are bosses that you’d love to work for, there are jobs out there that you’d be happy in, or at least not miserable. Life is short, don’t spend it dreading going to work every day.
Take responsibility for yourself and your circumstances and what you can control. Another possible side effect here is that in your state you also run the risk of making people around you miserable; coworkers, clients, your friends and family. It’s a total disservice everyone.
Don’t wait to communicate what you need.
“Don’t let the last person you talk to be the first person who could make things better for you.”
Another way that accountability shows up here is to communicate about the experience you’re having and the reasons why you’re bent out of shape to the person who actually has the ability to address or make changes to these things.
People often make the mistake of telling everyone in the universe about what’s bothering them other than the person who can actually do something about it. Waiting until you are at the point of leaving your job to speak up is a weaksauce move. Be an adult, take responsibility to address things that need to be addressed right away, without letting them fester or complaining to people who can’t do anything about it.
Also be aware that when you talk to them, your leader or coworker or company may not respond the way you want. But with all your cards on the table, you can make the decision as to whether or not you can stay and be happy, or if it’s time to move on.
Ultimately, if you’re going to be in a job and work for a company, you are responsible to show up and be an engaged, productive employee. That’s on you. When people take accountability for themselves and incorporate everything we’ve talked about during this month’s topic, everyone wins. Especially you.
Related links:
This article was created by keynote speaker Galen Emanuele for the #shiftyestribe. Free leadership and team culture content centered on a new focus every month. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Shift Yes Tribe at http://bit.ly/JointheSYT