While it looks like the Great Resignation is slowing down, the job market is still active.  One of the byproducts of the last few years is that many of us reflected on what’s most important to us.  Newsflash…it’s not work.  At least not the way it’s been done for as long as we can remember.

Now we want a better balance in our lives.  We want time with loved ones.  Time to experience life, travel, or experiment.  If we are in a role or organization where we can’t have a more well-rounded existence, then more of us are willing to walk away and find something new.

And yet…

That time between recognizing a bad fit and making a change is an important one.  There may be real reasons to change and change fast.  Barring that, there’s an opportunity to pause.  Once we realize it’s time to go, we can make the most of the time we have before we jump into something new.

It’s the perfect time to incubate.

Opportunities Abound

We cannot control anything but ourselves.  Our actions and reactions are ours to manage.  Yes, we may be in a crappy environment, have a micro-managing boss, or work crazy hours.  How did we get there?

It may be tempting to leave that irritating boss.  Before looking for a better one, it’s worth reflecting on why you chose this person to begin with.  What interview questions do you wish you’d asked?  What’s important to you now that maybe wasn’t a consideration then?

This is just one example, but opportunities abound.  We carry ourselves with us everywhere we go.  The mindset we have right now is the one we will take into interviews, relationships, and organizations ahead of us.

Unless we pause.

If we know it’s time to go, we can take some time to reflect on what it is about this environment that’s been a struggle.  Consider what we could have done differently to make it easier.  Maybe we needed to use our voice or set better boundaries.  Advocated, challenged, pushed, or let things slide, depending on what has been the most difficult and frustrating.

These are all actionable learnings of what WE can do next time.  We may not be able to change an organization or leader, but we can change ourselves.

Test and Learn

Having made the decision to go, and armed with insights about what we could do differently, we can rethink the environment we are in.

We’ve already got one foot out the door – why not treat the current organization as a lab?  What’s the worst that will happen if we suddenly start advocating for ourselves or setting better boundaries?  We’re already leaving.  

Assuming we don’t suddenly become insubordinate or stop showing up for work, it’s unlikely we will get fired.  We might start feeling like we are encouraged to leave, but that’s where our head is anyway so what’s the harm?

We will carry any of our current behaviors and patterns with us.  Rather than try to adjust them in the new company, we can test and learn through experiments at the current one.  Where there’s less harm if we get it wrong.  Less to lose if it takes a few iterations to get it right.

And the benefit is that the learnings will follow us to the next role.

As we reflect, we can prioritize those things that would be the most beneficial going forward.  Maybe we need to speak up more, protect our schedule, and do a better job of celebrating our successes.  Pick the top thing to start working on and decide on one thing to practice or change.  If it works, keep doing it.  If not, try something else.  

Once we find something that works and it becomes comfortable, go on to the next.  Until the day that the new job starts, there’s time for experimentation and learning.

New role, new you

Years ago, I worked with a coach for 18 months to address unhelpful patterns.  While I wanted a new role quickly, I’m so grateful that didn’t happen.

It was challenging.  I was with a known team and manager that struggled to see and support change.  Yet it was perfect.  If I had gone to another role, the same behaviors would have followed me. Instead, once I finally changed roles, I experienced a completely different engagement with my new team and leader.

I was able to carry the learnings with me into a new way of leading.

My coach and I didn’t tackle everything at once.  We picked one thing at a time for me to dig into, consider alternatives, and experiment.  I used what feedback I could get to adjust and refine.  

I’m not suggesting waiting that long to change roles.  However, if it seems like something isn’t a fit, every day until a new role is an opportunity.  One for reflection and iteration.

To this day, I believe the universe provided me with what I needed when I needed it.  I wanted a new job, but I needed to do the work.  Once I did the work, then the opportunity came quickly.

Ideally, we are in a safe environment and can test and learn anytime we identify an opportunity for improvement.  If that’s not possible, we can mentally commit to leaving AND treat the current role as a place of incubation.  One where we can iterate into an improved version of ourselves for the next role we pursue.

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What learnings have you discovered in that time between deciding to make a change and getting a new role?  Please share your thoughts in the comments to help others going through the change process.