Stuck in a role that just isn’t a good fit?

When you’re in a job that’s just not right for you, it’s a bit like being a frog in a pot of cold water that slowly gets heated. You don’t realise you need to jump out. You become used to the discomfort until…

A client of mine, Stephen, recently accepted a COO role in a large music venue/education organisation. He is pumped.

When we met he was flat and stressed, but couldn’t put his finger on why.

The NFP he worked at was facing funding issues. He loved the mission of the organisation and felt good about where he had added value. 

However, with budget cuts he was restricted as to how much impact he could drive with change management initiatives.

Together we uncovered his:

1. Why, his purpose to ensure no Sunday-itis and more fulfillment
2. His non-negotiables for his next role
3. His strengths statements, his zone of genius articulated in a way that demonstrates his unique abilities and how he can directly add value to the next organisation
4. And the roadmap to get there including how to get hired via conversations in a flat job market.

When you’re in a job that’s just not right for you, it’s a bit like being a frog in a pot of cold water that slowly gets heated. You don’t realise you need to jump out. You become used to the discomfort until…

Most of us have been in a role like this. We’ve stayed well beyond the use-by date, and this is certainly the case for many of my clients. 

The risk is that the situation can become quite toxic, you can start to lose confidence in yourself and perspective on your situation: being exhausted becomes normalised, as do dysfunctional relationships with colleagues.

There’s a really simple tool I use with clients in this situation to get them to see how urgently they need to find a better fit role.

I ask them to tell me about their work and how they’re feeling within themselves. I then ask them what they’d say if their best friend had just told them those things.

Encourage them to “tough it out” / “give it more time”? Or jump out and save your mental & physical health?

So, if you know someone who is struggling at work, why not try that approach with them. They may find it a bit confronting, but I guarantee they’ll thank you for it.

Want some help with this? Book in for a free 15 min chat and find out what’s really possible for your next role.