Smart tips for your office life

Smart tips for your office life

Some strategies to help you navigate the tricky minefield of complicated work situations

Exit strategies

18.07.2021 

I am disheartened by my colleagues who talk about equity and compassion, yet fail to advocate those same values in-house. It’s time for me to resign and for the standard exit interview. Should I be candid about my frustrations or just be gracious and “hope our paths cross again”?

This phenomenon of people voicing solidarity but doing little to act on the politics they purport to have is not unique to your workplace. Most people talk more than they act.

There are all kinds of ways to approach exit interviews. You can burn it all down, telling your employer the most unfiltered version of what you think. Most of us have fantasised about this kind of exit interview, but we don’t do it because the world is small and our professional circles are even smaller. There may be repercussions for speaking our minds.

First, determine what you hope to accomplish. Will voicing your frustrations simply make you feel better? Will the organisation act on your feedback? If your professional future depends on it, be gracious. Let common sense be your guide for the tone you take and where the conversation leads.

Tell the truth?

My new firm interviews candidates from my old firm and I am often asked what I think of them. Given that we all need jobs, how much is reasonable to share? What do people expect?

When giving this kind of informal recommendation, you should be honest about what you have directly observed or experienced. Everything else is conjecture or hearsay. When you aren’t privy to details about your colleague, it is better to say nothing. No harm is done in sharing what you know that is positive. Trust your instincts.

Drowning in the deep end

I was recently promoted to a managerial position. We never replaced the marketing director role, so I am the de facto lead for all of our promotional efforts. How can I tell my boss that the best thing for me, and the company, would be to look for a new marketing director?

Bringing this up may show a lack of ambition. But I am overwhelmed and a little burned out.

It can be terrifying when we are thrown into the professional deep end.

Your well-being, both professionally and personally, matter. If you are genuinely overwhelmed, speak with your boss. Ask for a new marketing director by identifying why that position should be filled by someone other than you and how it will benefit the company.

At the same time, make it clear that in the future, when you have more experience, you would like to be considered for the director position.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES