Work is where we spend a significant portion of our lives, so if your current position is making you miserable, your first instinct is probably to head for the hills. But before you march into your manager’s office and slap your resignation letter onto his or her desk, try to resolve the issue by confronting any of these likely scenarios.
If you don’t like the people on your team …
Coworkers can be what makes or breaks a job, and if you’re at the end of your rope with one or more of your coworkers, something has to give. First, try talking directly to your coworker to see if you could resolve the issue. If Larry’s habit of taking his shoes off at work is driving you mad, a polite request for him to stop may be all it takes. If you’re not comfortable doing that, talk to your manager to see if they can step in. Your manager might not be aware of a coworker’s behavior, and a good manager will see the value in taking action so they don’t lose out on a quality worker.
If you don’t like your manager …
Not getting along with your manager makes things a lot more difficult. First, take note of what the problem is. Does everyone on your team have a problem with your manager or is it just you? If you’re dealing with a bad manager and your coworkers are willing to back you up, arrange a meeting with your company’s HR. Be sure you can offer specific instances of inappropriate behavior and hopefully the manager will be disciplined or removed. If it’s more of a personal issue, arrange a one on one meeting with your manager and gently address the issue. Ideally, you’ll be able to resolve the issue and repair your working relationship.
If you don’t like the work you’re doing …
If your work is feeling rather uninspired lately, it’s no wonder you’re not feeling great about spending 8 hours a day working on it! See if there is a project that you can take ownership of that could relight that spark under you. It could be a long-term project that you always thought about and never had the chance to do before, or something you want to learn more about. See if your manager can be flexible with allowing you a small amount of time each week to pursue that goal. If you’re still completely sick of your job after that, see what positions are currently available at your company that you might be interested in. Changing your role and responsibilities might make you happier than you were before.
And if none of those work …
Time to start looking for a new position. Brush up your resume, send out applications, and be as non-intrusive as possible while scheduling interviews. Once you land a new role, it’ll be tempting to take off as soon as you can—but remember, even if you don’t like your position, it’s important to remain professional and keep as many positive connections as you can. Graciously give at least 2 weeks notice and put in the time expected of you before moving on.
Ideally, the issued you have with your current role can be resolved through some communication and out of the box thinking. If not, start working on finding a position that will better suit your needs.
Very constructive advice…. I believe in good communication can resolve any problem with realistic objectivity. Put in more than what is expected and always be kind to those who are unkind because good always is the best way to handle any condition.