You have worked at a place for several years and given blood, sweat and tears to your job. Going above and beyond the norm to ensure your organization has been successful. Your colleagues respect you and your staff works their tails off for you. You know the system and the system knows you. Then one day you get a call from a recruiter offering an opportunity to move on from your current position to another one. What do you do now?
I was offered positions several times throughout my career . I often wish I had the foresight and knowledge back then that I have now. But as often is the case, we do not have that information when making critical life decisions.
Tough choices about new opportunities are presented everyday to professionals in fields as diverse as athletics, manufacturing, law, medical, education and sales. These individuals often feel loyalty to the organization that hired and trained them, yet the opportunity to work someplace new is alluring. How should you make that tough decision on staying or leaving your current position?
My suggestion is to take the advice I offered recruits for many years when they were making a decision on where to live for the next four years and play their sport of choice. Do your research and do not leave one stone unturned. Decide what values you believe must be present in the organization for you to be a part of it without going home every night stressed to the max. If the company cannot meet your basic standards, stay as far away as possible.
Don’t just talk to the recruiter, the head coach and supervisors and take their word for how great a situation is. I always asked our recruits to talk to the kids who are on campus but no longer play. The organizational representatives presenting the offer and those involved in the program are the happy ones. They have no reason to tell you how things really are and seldom do you get the real picture from them. Speak to those who used to be a part of the program or organization and chose either on their own or because of the organization’s decision not to be a part of it any longer. These individuals will give you best feel and understanding of an organization. What is the culture really like, is the boss fair and honest, is it an ethical organization and did they enjoy working or being a part of it?
Loyalty to your current employer is often cited as the number one reason why most employees pass up career opportunities. But in the case of tough economic times would your employer show that same loyalty to you? I always believed that what I gave would be given back. It usually is not! You need to understand that organizations value you for what you can bring to them and the minute that value is diminished, your services are no longer needed.
Make your choice on what is best for you and your family. Take personal relationships out of it and determine which opportunity provides you the opportunity to go home every night and feel satisfied that you are making a difference in an organization that values your contribution and allows you to do it is a positive and welcoming environment.
Does the organization’s leadership make your job easier or harder to do everyday? Never choose to make a change based on the possibility of working for one person. That person may not be there next week, next month or next year. Do the other members of the leadership team in your area share the same characteristics that you admire in that one person?If not, move ahead with caution.
What matters most in any organization is the culture it creates. The culture is what it truly believes in and how it interacts daily with clients and employees, students and staff, alumni and community on a consistent basis. If an organization allows even some of your important values to be compromised, to be accepted as part of the norm, it is not a culture you will enjoy or be happy in it.
In short do your research before making any move and the opportunity to leave a sinking ship is not a good one if you are simply joining one with even more damage below the water’s surface. Do not run from one bad situation to another and do not leave a good one just for financial security. The ultimate decision has to be peace of mind.
Oh Geez Sports 