I wish I had access to this guidance years ago when I was navigating a toxic workplace and the need to exit--but lacked this kind of organizing framework to make sense of it. Tysm for this!
There is a book here...somewhere...Can I add an executive one? If the CEO and head of bus dev suddenly block you from selling new business, your primary source of leverage over the business, then you need to plan your departure stat...always depart with leverage, if necessary, so you can extract severance in an at-will position that is executive in name only.
After having been in the Digital Technology field for over 20 years, I would add that it may not be your boss who is the primary actor. It may be the CEO or middle manager who is making the plans. You boss may not even know anything about it.
I would also add that it is not always a good idea to quit before you being laid off. Depending on your financial situation and the potential severance package, it is sometimes better to polish your resume and portfolio and just keep track of job listings. Apply to the really good jobs, but don’t necessarily go all in on a job search. It is exhausting to work full-time and conduct a serious job search, so it is not always the wise choice.
Also, your manager may get laid off before you do, and then the situation suddenly changes. That has happened to me many times. Typically, the worse the manager, the higher the likelihood this will happen. Same for if the problem is a toxic co-worker.
You should also be aware of the overall market. In some economic situations, it is really hard to find a new job because supply exceeds demand. In other economic situations, hiring managers are desperate and will lower standards and increase starting salaries.
Obviously, how much you like your job and how well it aligns with your career goal matters a great deal as well.
Right on Nathalie, Dr. Alex Kennerly Vasquez, Ian Nolan, Anna Runkle, James F. Richardson, Colleen Doran, Katherine Brodsky, Hein V, Ambha Roberts, Christopher Sweat, and all. Please see/share our research from Captain Rob Balsamo, Amber Quitno, Captain Dan Hanley, Prof. Tony Martin, Prof. Graeme MacQueen, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, and others and help us improve it if you can. Thank you!
Agreed and I must endorse your list. I experienced every single one of those. More than 10 years after it all happened late one night I wrote out the entire experience.
This description - every single step - is absolutely spot on, thank you! This is rife in corporate, where managers are hired on the back of 'coffee catchups' rather than skill, and use an existing well functioning department as a showcase for their ill thought through, stressful, ineffective and inefficient 'change initiatve', as a springboard for an utterly unearned near-future promotion.
I wish I had access to this guidance years ago when I was navigating a toxic workplace and the need to exit--but lacked this kind of organizing framework to make sense of it. Tysm for this!
Thank you Rupi! I’m glad it can help people now!
There is a book here...somewhere...Can I add an executive one? If the CEO and head of bus dev suddenly block you from selling new business, your primary source of leverage over the business, then you need to plan your departure stat...always depart with leverage, if necessary, so you can extract severance in an at-will position that is executive in name only.
Absolutely James! Can I add it post pub for my executive readers and credit you?
Yes!
Great article.
After having been in the Digital Technology field for over 20 years, I would add that it may not be your boss who is the primary actor. It may be the CEO or middle manager who is making the plans. You boss may not even know anything about it.
I would also add that it is not always a good idea to quit before you being laid off. Depending on your financial situation and the potential severance package, it is sometimes better to polish your resume and portfolio and just keep track of job listings. Apply to the really good jobs, but don’t necessarily go all in on a job search. It is exhausting to work full-time and conduct a serious job search, so it is not always the wise choice.
Also, your manager may get laid off before you do, and then the situation suddenly changes. That has happened to me many times. Typically, the worse the manager, the higher the likelihood this will happen. Same for if the problem is a toxic co-worker.
You should also be aware of the overall market. In some economic situations, it is really hard to find a new job because supply exceeds demand. In other economic situations, hiring managers are desperate and will lower standards and increase starting salaries.
Obviously, how much you like your job and how well it aligns with your career goal matters a great deal as well.
Right on Nathalie, Dr. Alex Kennerly Vasquez, Ian Nolan, Anna Runkle, James F. Richardson, Colleen Doran, Katherine Brodsky, Hein V, Ambha Roberts, Christopher Sweat, and all. Please see/share our research from Captain Rob Balsamo, Amber Quitno, Captain Dan Hanley, Prof. Tony Martin, Prof. Graeme MacQueen, Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, and others and help us improve it if you can. Thank you!
https://michaelatkinson.substack.com/
Sincerely,
Michael
🦖
Agreed and I must endorse your list. I experienced every single one of those. More than 10 years after it all happened late one night I wrote out the entire experience.
Free PDF: researchgate.net/publication/380548008
• Free PDF: academia.edu/118395502
This description - every single step - is absolutely spot on, thank you! This is rife in corporate, where managers are hired on the back of 'coffee catchups' rather than skill, and use an existing well functioning department as a showcase for their ill thought through, stressful, ineffective and inefficient 'change initiatve', as a springboard for an utterly unearned near-future promotion.
You wrote the last 4 months of my job.
1 - 10. In order. Perfectly.
And yup, I walked.