Wait Or Quit?

You've been with the same company for years. You were told that mobility, promotion, was not only possible, but highly probable. Your employee evaluations have never been faulty. You are the most productive employee you know. But years later, you're in the same position. No promotion. No hope. What now?

In a situation such as this, you have 2 options, wait it out or quit. Without having employment already secured, the stupidest thing you can do, is leave your current job. So quitting is an option we're going to take off the table, you're smarter than that. That leaves the option to wait. But that considered, you must remember that only a fool thinks you can do the same thing and expect different results. Something has to change. But what?

You obviously have very little to no control over your supervisor or the company for that matter, so that change must happen on your end.

What do you change?

How do you change what needs to be changed?

When do you change what needs to be changed?

Most importantly, why do you change what needs to be changed when you change it?

The change that needs to be made is one of more control. You make the change of assuming more control over your career by sitting with management and making your intentions clear. Maybe they were not clear on the fact that progress was part of your plan. When having this meeting, ask them, point blank, exactly what you need to do to move forward in your career with the company. It's important to make sure that while you want to make your professional intentions clear, you don't want to sound as if you are giving the company demands or an ultimatum. The meeting has made a turn for the worst if at any point you start discussing your options elsewhere, outside the company.

The point at which you attempt to assume more control of your career is when you stop making progress or your ability to make progress is impeded. This point will be different for everyone. A good way to determine if you have reached this point, is to start by having career goals with measurable dates of accomplishment. If your date of accomplishment has come and gone, this would be considered a time to assume more control of your career. Your reason for making this change will be your own. Maybe the reason is financial, emotional, who knows. Frankly, it does't matter. What matters is that you are clear on why change must be made. This will serve as your motivation to make progress. Without motivation, how can you be moved to make a change?

Your motives to change, will push you towards progress. You can only make measurable progress in your career if you are making measurable progress with management. How do you make progress with management? You provide value. As is stressed all the time here at WorkReply, provide value to your organization. That is the only thing that matters. When you provide value, everything else, progress included, will follow, guaranteed.

What are some of the best ways people, regardless of industry or position, can provide value to their organization?

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