Courage to change – an impulse contribution
Just as I was publishing my latest LinkedIn post on the topic of “courage,” I found myself in an everyday situation that made me think and at the same time made me a little melancholic. I meet a former employee for lunch in a great garden restaurant. Delayed by looking for a parking space, I find her sitting at the table - a 43-year-old executive in the pharmaceutical industry, with a doctorate and a German Shepherd at her side.
After the usual pleasantries, we exchange experiences and impressions of the past year and quickly talk about jobs and careers. The person I am talking to bluntly addresses the problem: her new superior, in office since mid-2022, simply ignored her for a promotion that had previously been promised to her. The justification was given in a hasty, fleeting conversation, the brevity of which left hardly any time for questions. Conclusion: "He's an idiot and I don't want to work with him anymore."
What do you do if things no longer suit you at work?
Now she is faced with a dilemma. She has already spent a decade in this company, has an above-average salary and was even allowed to complete the high potential program. In her private life, she is very busy due to family obligations, but appreciates the opportunity to work flexibly from home. A career change is out of the question; She secretly hopes that her new boss doesn't stay in office long.
This case reminds me of a concept that I described in my book “The Phoenix Principle” . In principle, you only have three options in such situations: “Love it, change it or leave it.” As is usual, my colleague doesn't like any of the three options. So it remains in its unsatisfactory state for the time being. The pain or discomfort is not great enough to proactively make a change. But is that the best solution?
Is waiting even an option?
I am more and more convinced that this state of waiting, which turns the days gray, is unsustainable in the long term because it makes you mentally ill. “The courage to change” is the motto here. The courage to question the status quo and take the step towards a new challenge. It always amazes me what compromises people make to avoid stepping out of their comfort zone. However, change, however uncomfortable it may initially seem, is often the only path to a truly fulfilling future.
Do you know this situation from your own everyday life or from your work environment? Are you ready to find the courage to change? Then start your journey today and read my book “The Phoenix Principle” or contact me , I will be happy to support you on the way to the best version of yourself!