It’s Monday morning, and you’re already dreading the week ahead. As you sip your coffee, your inbox pings with a flood of emails demanding your immediate attention. You feel a knot tightening in your stomach.
By lunchtime, you’re fantasising about walking out of the office, dramatic resignation letter in hand, heading straight to a tropical island with an unlimited supply of cocktails.
If this resonates with you, you’re in good company. A recent study reveals that over a third of Australians are contemplating leaving their jobs within the next 6-12 months, and nearly half are feeling the weight of fatigue and burnout.
Before you press send on that strongly-worded resignation email, I want to walk you through some strategies for improving your current situation. I know it would be much more convenient if we just pointed the finger at your boss and agreed that you are an angel that does no wrong.
But alas, I am here to be brutally honest with you for the sake of your long-term mental health. Because if you have flimsy boundaries, passive communication and a tendency to ignore your needs, the exact same issues are going to pop up in whatever workplace next employs you. And the cycle continues.
So let’s dive in. If you are feeling burnt out and are considering quitting, this is a telltale sign that you have unmet needs within your role. These unmet needs can include things like feeling appreciated, a sense of belonging, safety, flexibility, independence, learning etc. (you can access a full list of needs here).
So, my first suggestion is spending some time reflecting on the needs that are going unmet in your current workplace. And sure, in an ideal world your boss would intuitively and proactively ensure that your needs are being met. But waiting for your boss to anticipate your needs is disempowering. Because ultimately you have no control over the inner workings of your boss’s mind. What you do have control over is your own actions.
Pexels: Billy Van Tran
Which brings me to my next suggestion. The best way to get your needs met is to ask directly. Shocking, I know. So now that you have built an awareness of your unmet needs that are contributing to burnout, it’s time to take action and communicate, baby!
And because I like to be as helpful as possible, I’m going to give you a handy formula to structure these tricky chats. This formula comes from the Non-Violent Communication approach created by Marshall Rosenberg.
The magic formula is as follows:
- Observation. Start off by non-judgmentally and factually describing the situation that needs to be addressed. Eg. When only my mistakes are highlighted in the monthly meeting..
- Feelings. Name the feeling this elicits in you using an “I” statement. Eg. I feel unappreciated.
- Needs. Name the unmet need using another “I” statement. Eg. I need my work to be acknowledged to sustain this job.
- Request. Make a specific suggestion for how the situation could be remedied. Eg. Can we finish the meeting by inviting everyone to share a positive outcome in the future?
As you start to practise this formula it is going to feel clunky and uncomfortable. After all, you have spent a lifetime ignoring and suppressing your needs rather than acknowledging and expressing them. Think of it like an atrophied muscle that needs a consistent workout routine to build up strength and skill.
If you put into practice all that I have outlined above but your needs continue to be ignored and overlooked, this is definitely a sign to jump ship. You have done everything within your power to elicit change.
Even if you do quit, all of your work identifying and communicating your needs is not in vain. You can now ask your future employer how capable they are of meeting your needs from the outset.
When your interviewer asks the inevitable question, “Do you have any questions for us?” you can respond with, “I need opportunities for ongoing learning in my career. How can your company ensure this is met?” (HINT: the need here is ongoing learning opportunities).
Pexels: Shraba Anthony
By implementing these strategies, you take a proactive stance in addressing your burnout and unmet needs. Remember, advocating for yourself is a vital skill, not just for your current job, but for any future roles you may take on. Whether you choose to stay and transform your current situation or move on to a new opportunity, your newfound ability to identify and communicate your needs will serve you well. The road to recovery from burnout begins with recognising your worth and voicing your needs. You deserve to thrive, not just survive, in your professional life.
Some FAQ questions around quitting your job
Should I quit my job if it makes me unhappy?
As we’ve delved into, it’s incredibly important to be happy in your job. After all, you spend around a third of your life at work. But as important as it is to pursue your goals, you should also look inwardly at whether there is a pattern, and what you are doing to break the cycle and express your needs clearly.
What happens if I quit my job?
Quitting a job can be overwhelming. It is important that if you’re going to make that change, you have mapped out a plan, especially financially, so you’re not further overwhelmed. This will also allow you to pursue your next role, and job applications, without the pressure of unplanned money problems, as well as emotional shock. Planning pays, here.
How do I quit my job?
If you’ve thought long and hard about quitting, and it’s the right thing to do for you, then there are a few ways to tackle this. Request an in-person meeting, write notes on the reasons that you have both enjoyed the job but ultimately feel it hasn’t been right for you, and give an appropriate amount of notice to your employer. It is always great etiquette to offer onboarding help to the new hire, and leave the job on good grounds.
