Changing job? Don’t do it until you’ve answered these 5 questions

Changing your job is a big deal. In fact, starting a new job is considered to be one of the top 10 most stressful things in life. However, ‘issues at work’ can typically be found higher up on the same list, so it’s not hard to understand why so many people find career or role changes so difficult to navigate on their own. This is why career transitions and role changes are amongst the most common reasons that people start working with a Life Coach. 

Making big life decisions

As with any big life decision, it’s important to ensure that you have everything you need to make the best decision. I think this can be broken down into a handy checklist: 

1. Do I know and understand all of the options open to me? 
2. Do I have all of the information I need?
3. Do I have my emotions in check? 
4. Am I ready to decide?
5. Do I need a coach?

If you’re looking at making a change, one of two things is true: Either you’re excited about an opportunity that you’ve identified, or you’re desperate to get away from what you’re doing now. 

Working through this checklist systematically and thoughtfully ensures that you’re being strategic and measured in your career progression. It also dramatically increases your chances of making a great decision. 

So, why is each question important? 

1. Do I know and understand all of the options open to me? 

This question encourages you to put the brakes on and tap into your creativity (and whatever you think, you can be creative). Maybe you’re only thinking about a move because you’ve seen something that looks exciting. Maybe you’re feeling bored or stagnant in your current role, so you want a change. It doesn’t really matter what brought you to this point, but now you’re here it’s time to think about every possible option. Allow yourself to dream about every possibility. You can always cross them off your list later. 

2. Do I have all of the information I need?

This may be an obvious point, but when you’re making a big decision you need to ensure that it’s an informed one. If you’re hoping to move into something shiny and new, spend some time looking for the drawbacks. It doesn’t need to dampen your enthusiasm, but you do need to know.

Equally, if you’re desperate to leave behind a boss that doesn’t value you, a toxic culture, a company that doesn’t align with your values, a boring role or whatever, you’ll want to understand enough about your potential new role to feel confident you aren’t going to feel the same again in 6 months. There are many other questions you can ask yourself here, such as: 

• What does my work/career give me (beyond a salary and perks])? 
• What makes me feel fulfilled in my work/career? 
• When am I at my best and worst in a work context? 
• Who else is impacted by this decision? 

3. Do I have my emotions in check?

We like to think that we make cool, rational decisions based on sound analysis. Most of the time we’re wrong. Our instincts and emotions are constantly at work, steering us towards a course of action that ‘feels’ right. We can’t switch these emotions off, nor should we try. However, it’s important that we know they’re there, shaping our thoughts.

I recommend you check in with these emotions regularly through the decision-making process. When you feel excited, fearful or confused, ask yourself ‘What’s causing this?’ By spending time exploring your emotions this way you can tap into powerful and helpful insights, and you can then decide how you incorporate these insights into your decision. 

4. Am I ready to decide?

Big decisions deserve careful consideration. You should find a comfortable space, free from distraction, clutter and noise, and focus on your decision. If you’ve fully addressed the first three questions on your own, you’re probably ready. 

However, if you’re feeling fearful, doubting, lacking in confidence or just avoiding the decision, it’s time to think about question five. 

5. Do I need a coach?

A coach can help you through this process by: 

• Helping you tap into your creativity in question one and holding you in this space until you really have exhausted every avenue.
• Helping you to bring together all of the information you need for question two by using carefully considered questions tailored to your specific situation.
• Introducing you to the strategies and techniques that can help you manage and understand your emotions question three, so they become a force for good in this process.
• Creating the space for you to make the best decision question four. 

A Life Coach won’t make these big decisions for you, nor will they advise you on the right path to take. What they will do is provide all of the support you need so that you can make a great decision that’s right for you. You already have everything you need inside, but a coach will help you find it.