Often times when we make the decision to resign after having thought about it for a while, it is difficult to sit in front of your boss to break the news. And sometimes we are not entirely sincere when asked the reasons for our abandonment.
They have told us not to close doors, that we have to get along with everyone, that just as the company you leave is your client in your next professional challenge … And this behavior, no matter how bad it is, leads us to throw balls out, to say that we are leaving because we want to study a master’s degree or write a book (as if that is incompatible with working), because we are going to live in London, because we need a sabbatical to travel the world or simply because they offer us a higher salary , superior working conditions (company car, better tools to work, a bonus at the end of the year or a variable depending on whether the objectives are achieved …) or social benefits such as health insurance, food checks or transportation assistance, among others.
Many times, these reasons are the plain truth. However, other times they are reasons that cover up the real whys.
1.- I don’t like my work.
I have been sold the job position so well in the interview that I am excited to start working. But once inside and after a couple of months, I have realized that it does not correspond to what they told me or it is not what I was looking for.
In these cases, instead of making the decision to leave the company, I would recommend requesting a change of department. It is a solution that can work as long as that possibility exists and is well received by superiors.
2.- I can’t stand my boss.
Even today it seems incredible that we continue to find that profile of a boss with a huge ego that all he does is subtract instead of adding value to the business.
The role of the 21st century leader should be understood as a figure that inspires, sets an example, empowers team members, facilitates work, is action-oriented, humble, analytical with the management and direction of the company, thoughtful to perfect their own judgment and with relationships based on trust, collaboration and respect.
3.- There is a very bad environment, disorganization and I have toxic companions.
This situation, in addition to being very unpleasant, triggers a continuous and general malaise that causes a huge drop in productivity.
That is why we must create a suitable environment for the cooperation and camaraderie necessary to develop good teamwork, in addition to organizing and ordering tasks. Conflict resolution is especially important in this regard, as we tackle root problems (especially those that are critical) allowing good daily performance.
4.- I want to learn, but they don’t give me training.
And, due to the conditions of my work and my personal life, I also do not have material time to train outside my working hours.
The training that the worker provides when he joins the company and that which he can learn in a general way (studying at a distance, for example), is sometimes not feasible due to the particular situation of each one and, furthermore, it is not enough . How to serve customers, how to argue a sale, assertive communication in complaints … These are aspects that can be learned with external training (although not in all cases), but the personal touch of the company would be missing to do things the way specific required internally.
5.- I do not feel identified with the culture of the company.
The values of the company, its philosophy, its way of doing things … Perhaps the environment is too elitist for you and your colleagues look down on you, the workspace is open and, therefore, you are not concentrating or not You have the privacy you expected, maybe your boss is too inaccessible because he is locked in his office all day or you would like to maintain a more flexible and honest treatment with clients.
These details go unnoticed in many selection processes and, however, it is vital that the worker is aligned with the corporate culture.
6.- There is no defined strategic course.
We don’t do anything differently from our competition, all we do is copy what others are doing without having our own identity and personality.
Knowing how to identify an opportunity to be different and exploit it is what will give us the possibility of having greater guarantees of success because we will have a unique way of adding value to the client.
7.- The position has become too small for me and I am bored.
I could take on more workload and more responsibilities, but they don’t give me the opportunity to move up because they prefer to hire someone from outside.
Sometimes we do not realize that the worker we already have hired can contribute even more than a new incorporation. That is why it is convenient to periodically request an update of the CV of all our collaborators (where we will find relevant information about new training programs they have attended, presentations on topics that are interesting to them, their new facet as a teacher or writer …) or hold meetings to find out abilities, interests and long-term motivations. In this way we will identify new areas of the business in which they can participate or consider them for a possible higher level vacancy.
8.- I don’t feel fulfilled with my work.
I need something more. New challenges, undertaking within the company, an international experience, etc … There are many workers who, far from settling for a monotonous job (even if it is key for the company), look for an extra incentive that makes them feel that their work is important. Having the possibility to improve what is wrong, participate in improvements to correct problems that are repeated every day, contribute ideas to optimize any aspect or even develop independent projects oriented to innovation to exploit new business opportunities, are examples of initiatives that are they can launch.
9.- There is no communication.
We go to work, but we don’t know why (other than to earn a salary every month) or for what.
At the corporate level, we must make workers participate in the goals pursued by the company, the priorities, objectives that have been achieved; where we want to go … it is essential to make sense of our permanence in the company. And on an individual level, we must recognize the achievements and milestones that are achieved thanks to daily work.
10.- There is no flexibility.
When I stay two more hours, I have no chance to get it back and I don’t get paid for overtime. They sulk me if I have to go out early for a personal matter and a work-life balance is not sought.
Establishing a flexible work schedule would be the solution to this problem (as long as it is possible according to the job and type of activity). If we think, for example, of an office job with a specific workload today, it is fair that the worker can leave earlier on another day that has less work. So, in addition to acting fairly, we will be being tolerant with your way of organizing, trusting in your responsibility for the assigned tasks.
Therefore, if you want to discover the true reasons and know why the members of your team do not last even a year in the position, certain tools such as anonymous work environment surveys or an exhaustive exit interview are essential.