Think Twice Before Walking Away

I interview people every day who are facing challenges at work and who are considering walking away from their jobs. Work can be tough – Pressure to achieve is increasing and stress levels are skyrocketing!  Its a fight for survival in a competitive market. You may be questioning yourself, wondering if, against the odds you’ve got what it takes to meet the challenge or whether you should walk away too?

In my role as an executive recruitment consultant I’m more than happy to support your mission and help you find something else – but before you jump ship – I wanted to share a piece of ancient wisdom that might just encourage you to take a different approach!

Is the challenge you are facing a Rite of Passage?

Its your relationship to and your context for life’s challenges that will ultimately shape their outcome. Woven through tribal cultures and ancient mythology is a magical pathway, the Rite of Passage. You can use the context of this age old wisdom to discover valuable skills and capacities to approach any challenge at work and emerge empowered. In doing so you can become the hero of your own career story.

The term ‘Rite of Passage’ refers to a ceremony or significant event that marks your transition or progression from one phase or state in life to another. Traditionally it will require courage, personal resolve and determination. It invites you to overcome a challenge or personal struggle. A rite of passage offers you the opportunity to stoke your inner fire and connect with who you truly are. By its very nature, a rite of passage is a catalyst that can evoke a personal crisis and a loss of identity. It is often designed to shatter your illusions and decimate outworn aspects of your ego.  When you move through a rite of passage you can discover unshakable internal resources and can achieve a significant shift in skill set and self-awareness.

Ancient wisdom declares that when you undertake a rite of passage you ideally do so consciously. You trust that you are ultimately supported and you understand that once the challenge is met and you have transcended your personal limitations, you will ‘return’ to yourself or your work community transformed and empowered.

A good example of an ancient tribal rite of passage is commonly referred to as the Australian ‘walkabout’. When an adolescent male member of the indigenous tribe is ready to make the transition from boyhood to manhood, he responds to the call of the land and leaves the tribe to live alone in the wilderness. Completely isolated he confronts and transcends his fear and limitations and learns to fend for himself physically, spiritually and emotionally. He is then welcomed back to the tribe and acknowledged and celebrated as a ‘man’.

Personal Victory and Reward could be Moments Away

When you recognise a challenge at work as a rite of passage or the invitation to an adventure, you can heed the call and can choose to embrace the opportunity for growth. In doing so, you reframe and create an empowering context for what you are experiencing at work. Most often you’ll have access to the support and knowledge of those that have walked the path before you, and you can, with awareness, consciously and proactively take care of the business at hand. You’ll have the potential to acquire new skills and capacities and to emerge more authentic and empowered!

Perhaps think twice about walking away…