From ‘quitting is my only option’ to planned exit on their terms

RESULTS

​This executive leader was operating in a high-pressure environment, with little space to think strategically. When we started working together, he was depleted and so consumed by work that he couldn’t see his situation clearly. Work was affecting every aspect of his life, including his mental health and important relationships.

Walking away from his role seemed like the only option — even though it would have had detrimental consequences for his financial position and career progression.

We set three goals at the outset of his coaching program: The first was developing the self-assurance to lead a business line. Second, he wanted to leverage and communicate his core strengths and skills with confidence. And the final objective was to clarify his career vision and actionable steps to achieve it.

Six months later, this individual had achieved all three goals and exceeded his own expectations. He describes himself as a fundamentally different person, is doing well at work and seizing the opportunities around him.

As a result, he’s stopped running away from his current role and started running toward the future career he wants. Moving on is still the plan — yet it’s not urgent or reactive anymore. Instead, it’s intentional and will happen when the time is right for him.

CLARITY

When we first met, this person was in ‘survival’ mode and saw no other option than to leave his job. Because of this, he was putting pressure on himself to understand his career options. But you don’t find clarity without the capacity to think about your direction.

Although he couldn’t immediately change his work situation, we looked at what was within his control to do differently. The first priority was creating space to switch off from work and investing in the activities which nurtured him. This looked like going to the gym, cooking healthy meals at home and spending quality time with family.

Once this individual had some space, we identified his core values, strengths, talents and interests. This gave him an immediate understanding of what was missing in his current career and what was within his control to change. He could also see how to harness this self-awareness when making future career decisions.

Next, we clarified his overarching career vision. From there, we used these insights to start exploring potential career options in a structured way and pinpoint his preferred pathway. Through this process, he realised he had more options than expected — which removed the pressure to make a rushed decision.

Once this leader had clarity on his direction, he was more determined than ever to excel further in his career and forge his own path. One that works for him, his values and priorities!

When you start by creating capacity, you will find clarity on your career direction.

CONFIDENCE

The biggest transformation this client experienced was a complete perspective shift in the way he viewed his situation. Before coaching, his confidence had taken a serious hit, he was doubting his abilities and had internalised that HE was the issue.

His belief from the outset was that the only way to improve his current circumstances was to resign. But the fear of making the wrong move and ending up in an even worse position held him back.

Through the deeper mindset work we did together, this individual developed the tools to shift his thinking and challenge the story he was telling himself. He’s in a completely different headspace and is no longer caught up in the negative aspects of his immediate role. Instead of reacting out of fear, he’s focused on the future and is making intentional decisions.

We also identified how to leverage his unique strengths and skills to his advantage and communicate his value proposition with confidence. This leader now knows his worth and finally recognises he’s operating at the level required for someone in his position. As a result, he’s gained confidence and is seizing the opportunities around him that he previously shied away from.

His mindset has completely shifted and he’s no longer running away from his current situation but towards what’s next — when the time is right for him.

When you shift your perspective, you will have the confidence back yourself — without even changing roles.

CAREER STRATEGY

‘I’m too busy to even THINK about what to do next’. I hear this all the time from high-achieving leaders who are juggling demanding roles and putting their careers on hold.

And it’s exactly where this executive client was before coaching: exhausted, unable to focus or think strategically about his career.

He couldn’t see a way forward that didn’t involve walking away from his role and going back to the drawing board. But quitting would likely lead to serious financial and career setbacks.

This is exactly what Seth Godin was talking about in a recent episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast when he said: ‘When you want two things at the same time that can’t co-exist, you feel stuck.’

You can’t immediately quit a senior level position without risking your financial security. But you can start taking steps towards what you want next while still in your existing job.

I’ve had clients come to me wanting a complete career change. However, they’re not willing to take a pay cut. Their desire to do more fulfilling work is in direct conflict with their current financial and lifestyle commitments.

Some people choose to transition slowly by building something on the side, reducing their hours or upskilling over time. Others decide it isn’t the right time — or that it doesn’t align with their priorities. One recent client chose to stay in his existing field to maximise his income during this growth phase and change careers in another 5 years.

Either way, knowing this allows you to make an intentional decision — instead of staying stuck at a career crossroads.

For this leader, taking ownership meant choosing to stay for now. It sounds counterintuitive but he turned a reactive career decision into a strategic career move.

To start, we reverse-engineered his vision into short to medium term goals and action steps. He then committed to a regular cadence of objectives that he ticked off each week, which kept him in momentum.

This person also looked strategically for growth opportunities in his existing organisation. He developed new skills and gained exposure to projects, transactions and business functions where he didn’t have as much experience. Staying longer proved to be a smarter strategy to support his next career move and long-term goals.

Next, he reconnected with his network, continued to expand it and updated his career documents so he could immediately respond to new opportunities. Finally, he did the work to test and validate different career paths in advance, so he could minimise risk with his move.

Executive career transitions are a 2-3 year plan, not a quick job change. At senior levels, making the move IS the final step — once you’ve clarified what you want, positioned yourself correctly and executed the strategy.

This individual is clear on his next step and knows the work required to make it a success. Moving on is still the goal though it’s on his timeline — not a rushed exit forced by fear.

When you create a long-term strategy instead of an urgent escape plan, you will take ownership of your career.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

So what can you take from this client’s transformation? Here are my top 3 takeaways and how YOU can apply them to your career!

#1 — Get up on the balcony

When you’re depleted, it’s difficult to make decisions or think strategically about your career. In his work on Adaptive Leadership, Harvard Professor Ron Heifetz talks about ‘getting off the dance floor and up on the balcony’. You need to create space and step back far enough to see your situation clearly.

#2 — Know your priorities and trade-offs

Every career choice has a trade-off. Knowing yours helps you make an intentional decision, instead of staying caught at a crossroads. Sometimes staying longer is the smartest strategy, so you can gain experience, upskill or transition slowly — without the risk of starting over or taking a huge pay cut.

#3 — Create a runway

If you’re looking to step into your next senior leadership or executive role within 2-3 years, start the process NOW. Begin laying the groundwork before you’re desperate to leave, so you’re ready when the right opportunity appears. This is what separates a rushed exit from a strategic, long-term career move.

So there you have it. How my client went from believing quitting was his only option to a planned exit on his terms. I hope this helps you find direction, build confidence and gives you a clear strategy to create a career by design too.

If you’re looking for an ongoing partnership to clarify your direction, build confidence and create a personalised strategy to take ownership of your career, I invite you to explore Ignite Your Career.

I’m now taking applications for the next intake, with 2 spots available starting in September. Apply for a complimentary call to get started here.

Stacey Back is an executive career coach, strategist and speaker. She guides high-achieving senior leaders to design careers on their own terms and helps organisations to develop and retain them.