The Courage to Quit

What do you do when your company's values no longer align with your own?

“I left my job because the [leader’s or company’s] values no longer aligned with my own.”

I’ve heard this sentiment twice in the past week, in conversations with two different people, coming from two different industries, and sitting at two different levels in their respective organizations.

Finding and working for an organization whose values align with your own is a lesson I took away from the Frye Leadership Institute some 15 years ago (Frye was a leadership development program for up-and-coming higher education technology and library leaders).

Whatever your values are, make sure they align. (Photo by Walls.io on Unsplash)

The logic was simple—the work in senior leadership roles isn’t significantly different from institution to institution, so value alignment is key to finding an organization and role where you can thrive.

It totally makes sense … but how many of us actually do this? If and when we do, it generally happens when we’re first interviewed and hired.

Recognizing that your own values or the values of the organization have shifted—and acting upon that realization—is what makes these individuals and stories unique.

And courageous.

Both individuals left their companies and roles without having another role lined up.

“An appalled soul will say to you, in any way possible: "I cannot bear another day of this." I cannot bear the degradation and humiliation of this relationship; it is an offense to me. I cannot bear this job. I cannot sit here for ONE MORE MEETING, listening to Barbara from Human Resources talking about the company's parking policy, or I will break my own neck with my own two hands.” -Elizabeth Gilbert (source)

They did not evaluate the pros and cons of their roles. They did not assess if it was the right time to leave.

Despite conventional wisdom—don’t leave a job until you have another job, ever—they could not take one more minute of it. And so they quit.

This act took …

• self awareness to see the disconnect,

• conviction in their own values,

• courage to act on their convictions, and

• confidence in their ability to navigate an unknown future.

Exactly. But much easier said than done.

I know one of these individuals well, and the other not at all. But I told both of them the same thing—I hope you are proud of yourself for acting in line with your values.

And I am proud of you, too.

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Bonus: Here’s another great (and quick) read by Lisbeth Darsh on reaching the point where you are simply done: When You Reach the Point of No More

I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever left a job because you just couldn’t take it for one more day, and if so, what caused you to leave—was it value alignment, or something else?