Not Feeling Challenged?

The words of a marriage vow may or may not be familiar to you. (I,_____________, take you,_____________, to be my (husband/wife), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.)

In a much different place, with emotional and spiritual maturity, when remarrying after a failed first marriage and before taking my vows a second time around, I chose to invest in time and resources to validate compatibility to stand the test of time. Dating, counseling, and a lot more clarification took place as the word “vow” was not just a word and carried the wounds from a divorce. It prepared my new husband and me not only for the worse days—financial challenges and health battles—but also for those days when love was a more general love of mankind and far from passionate. It gave us mutual respect and the ability to rekindle after a challenge. Neither of us took the commitment lightly, as we both knew the pain of a failed marriage. Now, twenty years later, we are thankful we did.

Your Workplace Vows

The workplace, although not a romantic relationship, is a marriage of sorts (union, commitment, mutual agreement) and can be looked at similarly when selecting a match. The more you know about the company, company culture, and team you are committing to, the better your chance of preparing yourself for the ups and downs and achieving a longer union together. Coaching before making a career move can also help you resolve any regrets you have with past employment choices or misnomers you have of industry choices. This helps for an emotional reset and a new perspective when your mind flows with negative thoughts you need to capture.

Communication, Not A Resignation

So often, just as with marriage, because of fear of rejection or dissolution, the choice is made to resign instead of having a conversation to see if a rekindling or solution is available right where you are. We like to say if it is something you can achieve right where you are, it is a conversation before a resignation. If you take time to communicate for clarity instead of assuming in fear, you will keep the respect of your current team even if it is time to move on. Those people are the references that continue to help you achieve your career goals future.

Indeed has an article on their career guide called 16 Reasons Employees Leave Their Jobs.

Often articles such as the above are written from the perspective of those who work in editorial roles, and if done with survey data, they are about mainstream workplaces and not specific to the nuances of other industries. Just in the title alone, it states, “16 Reasons Employees Leave,” then it opens to a bold common reason followed by the broad statement of “These are the top reasons employees decide to quit their jobs.”

I take a different approach. Think about what you are not achieving and why. Let’s process it as if we are piecing a puzzle together. How would you go about solving it? You would be unlikely to quit unless you at least tried to fix it first.

Let’s go over the first reason on Indeed’s list and give you tips on how to determine if the feelings or situation are temporary—and you can rekindle right where you are—or if it is time to systematically make your next career move.

Consider Why You Are Not Feeling Challenged?

Number one on the list is needing more challenge. Unless you are just entering a new career and have not been given opportunities or have been working in an extremely limited discipline or in an industry for many years, then challenge should never be your issue. There is challenge just in getting better at what you do to manage people, projects, and any risks associated with your job and the representation you bring for your employer by doing so.

Each role and project is different in some way, shape, or form. Teams, technology, consultants, governmental regulations, product specifications, and so much more are ever changing and evolving with time. Challenge can also happen with the delivery of a project ahead of an anticipated schedule, with cost savings to the client and without sacrificing quality and relationships along the way.

Not Feeling Challenged? Or Is It Something Else?

Professionals are more likely to transition from a company because of inappropriate challenges than a lack of challenge in their role. Those improprieties might come from an employer who has failed policies, limited resources, or insubordinate staff and is unwilling to provide solutions, preventing your success.

What To Consider Before Approaching Your Employer

If you are seeking more challenge with your current employer, first align yourself with the expectations your boss may have by answering these questions:

Do you take ownership and responsibility for the work, tasks, and relationships you are currently responsible for managing?
If you answered yes, are they your beliefs, or do your associates concur with verbal or written affirmation?
Have you proven this ownership and responsibility for the duration of a minimum of one full project cycle and/or a full calendar year with the company?
Have you been offered other responsibilities and gladly taken them on?

If you can’t satisfy your need for more challenge right where you are, and you answered yes to all the questions above, then it’s time to plan your next career move. First, align yourself with your personal life and goals. Next, assess the timing to leave your current opportunity, considering the stage of your project assignments and others at the company who have aided in your success thus far. Third, reach out for help if you need it.

Problem-solving is rewarding; it keeps us interested, motivated, and satisfied at work. The ability to solve challenges is what keeps us on our game, and it’s a tool we need to keep sharpened. If you are not feeling challenged, it’s time to speak up.

To Your Next Challenge,
Suzanne Breistol

Common reasons employees leave their job

These are the top reasons employees decide to quit their jobs:

1. Needing more of a challenge

After working at the same job for a while, you start to get to know all of your tasks and responsibilities quite well. When there’s little more to learn in your role, you may start to feel like you are ready for more of a challenge. This is a natural part of growing in your career, especially as you become interested in learning new skills.

2. Looking for a higher salary

When you feel like you’re underpaid for the work you do, it may be time to move onto a new job. Likewise, you may be ready to accept more responsibilities and with that comes more pay. As your lifestyle changes or your family grows, you may decide that you need to make more money to afford your living expenses.

3. Feeling uninspired

What started as an exciting opportunity may eventually leave you feeling uninspired over time. Finding a new job is a great way to feel passionate about your work once again. Your current company may not have opportunities for you to do meaningful work, which is why it’s important that your next employer’s values and mission align with your own.

4. Wanting to feel valued

Feeling replaceable at your job may make you want to search for a position where your efforts are valued more. It feels good to know your work is important and making an impact on the success of the company. Sometimes entry-level positions can make this challenging since you have fewer responsibilities. In this scenario, you may be ready for a higher-level job.

5. Seeking a better management relationship

As you get into your career, you may discover that you get along with some people better than others. This is a perfectly normal part of working at any business, although finding a new job may give you the opportunity to build healthier relationships. If you feel like you need a more supportive manager or supervisor, it may be time to look for a company that values employee-manager relationships more.

6. Searching for job growth and career advancement

If your current employer is limited in the number of promotions or learning opportunities they can offer, you may want to find an employer who has these resources. Having room to grow in your career is an important part of feeling fulfilled. Quality employers offer continued education, like workshops, seminars, lectures or even tuition reimbursement.

7. Needing more feedback or structure

Some people thrive off a more fluid work environment while others need more structure. Consistently feeling unsure about how your manager views your progress and effort is a common reason to look for a new job. An integral part of improving your performance is to get regular feedback from your employer. Find a job where they have regular performance reviews.

8. Wanting a different work environment

Every company has a different kind of work environment. This could be the actual structure of the workplace, such as closed offices, an open layout or cubicles. It can also refer to the company’s culture, whether it is more casual, social or professional. You may want a job that offers you a work environment you feel the most comfortable working in.

9. Looking to live somewhere else

There are many reasons you might want to move, such as living expenses or things to do. You may decide that you’d rather live somewhere closer to family. Likewise, many people who work in the city may look for a job in the suburbs when they are ready to start a family. If your job doesn’t offer remote work and you want to move, you may need to look for a new job.

10. Feeling conflicted with workplace policies

Many employees enjoy a workplace that offers flexible scheduling and telecommuting opportunities. If you feel like your work policies make it challenging to do this, there are many other companies that offer such benefits. Likewise, you may find that your company’s paid-time-off and sick leave policies don’t align with your personal needs. These are all common reasons many people quit their job.

11. Thinking that their job has changed

When you first start a job, the employer lays out all of your benefits, perks and responsibilities. As your company evolves, you may realize that your job looks quite different from when you first started. This could mean that some of your perks have been reduced or that you’re doing work you didn’t apply to do.

12. Wanting a clearer company vision

A central part of finding a meaningful job is working for a company with a clear vision. If your employer’s goals and mission statement are unclear to you, you may feel interested in finding a company that has clearer values. This way, you can better understand how your contributions are helping the company meet its larger goals.

13. Needing a better work-life balance

Having time for your friends, family and hobbies is an important part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. You may find that outside of working hours your manager is always contacting you or that you are constantly working overtime. At some point, this can begin to impact your personal time and make you feel burnt out. Looking for a new job that values employee’s personal time can help you achieve this balance once again.

14. Seeking a more financially secure company

Things like budget cuts and limited resources can be challenging to work with. As your company experiences financial hardships, you may feel less secure in your role. Finding a job that offers fair wages, room to grow, learning opportunities and regular pay increases can help you feel more confident that your company is doing well financially.

15. Wanting more independence

Some managers use micromanaging as a way to keep track of everything you do. This can make you feel like you need more independence and autonomy in your role. A quality employer is one who trusts their employees and gives them a chance to figure out things on their own.

16. Looking for more recognition

Positive feedback and praise are how managers can make their employees feel more appreciated. Working for a company that rarely gives you recognition can make it challenging to feel motivated each day. Quitting your job and finding one where they give credit to hard-working employees can make you feel more valued.

Our Blog