Should you stay or should you go?

As the American election nears, two contenders vie for the highest office.

Donald Trump has been involved in politics since 1987 and is also spritely at 78.

Joe Biden has been in the political game for 50 years and is a spritely 81

This raises an important question.

How do you know when to play it like Don and stick it out for the long haul, or make like Joe and get the hell out of there?

This is a decision that will be different for everyone, and just to get one big popular fallacy out of the way, ‘going with your gut’ or ‘just making the leap’ is not always possible. Being in a position to ‘just quit’ is a privilege, and whilst staying in a toxic working environment might be damaging to your mental and physical health, so is poverty.

No matter what your situation, it can be helpful to take some time to consider whether it is time to make a move, why, how, and an exit strategy.

Here are a 4 things to consider.

Is your job serving you?

You took it for a reason—good commute, salary, a persuasive interviewer, an appealing role, culture, excellent pension, generous leave, flexible hours, or perks like ping pong and free pizza.

Whatever it was, ask yourself if those reasons still exist and matter. Can you get them elsewhere? In today's employee-friendly market, flexibility is a norm. Chances are, you can find what you need without the current hassles

Is your job impacting your health?

It's normal to have bad days at work. Even passionate workers like dancers in the Taylor Swift Eras tour and Taylor herself have bad days. But there's a big difference between occasional bad days and chronic misery. If you can't shake work stress and it's affecting your life, it's time to consider an exit strategy.

Is change in your current job realistic?

If you've never dealt with a difficult boss, annoying colleague, or frustrating policy, consider yourself lucky. If these issues are making you miserable, think about their longevity. A bad boss might get managed out, you might avoid projects with an irritating colleague, or a hated policy might fade away.

However, a new management approach you disagree with could be permanent. Critically assess what you dislike about your situation and decide if it's a temporary blip or the new normal.

Can you be yourself at work?

Research by Francesca Gino shows that authenticity leads to success. Pretending to be someone else is stressful and damaging. Are you in a comfortable work environment? If not, it may impact your mental health in the long run. Seek a company culture that fits you better. You can't keep up the act forever.

What next?

If you choose to go, you’ll need an exit strategy.

If you choose to stay, you’ll need coping strategies – particularly if the reasons for staying feel out of your control.

Like any decisions, you don't have to make them alone. I like many others have made decisions with the help of my coaches.

If you have got a tough decision to work through get in touch.