{"id":53650,"date":"2022-05-12T14:14:24","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T18:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=53650"},"modified":"2022-05-12T16:40:29","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T20:40:29","slug":"why-employees-dont-stay-put","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/why-employees-dont-stay-put\/","title":{"rendered":"Why It&#8217;s Un(Acceptable) for Employees to Stay Put"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the west, our work culture has a real \u201cstanding still is going backwards\u201d mentality. We have all become convinced that progression is the ultimate goal in any career. This is combined with a strong need for status in the form of material wealth and a perceived \u201csuccess.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>But if that\u2019s true, where does the progression stop? When do we allow ourselves to be <em>content<\/em> in a role &#8212; to have reached the end destination, at least for a few years?<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/magnet-me-LDcC7aCWVlo-unsplash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-52071\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/magnet-me-LDcC7aCWVlo-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Some people who chase traditional career goals end up unfulfilled \" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In this article we\u2019re going to explore whether it\u2019s actually <em>okay<\/em>\u2014perhaps better, even\u2014to \u201chave enough\u201d and to stay still in business. To do this, we\u2019re going to look at a few areas:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>What does success really mean?<\/li>\n<li>What are your life aspirations?<\/li>\n<li>What is your right income?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What does success mean to you?<\/h2>\n<p>We all recognize the signs of a successful career: salary, promotions, responsibility, job title, office size, bonuses, perks, and so on. If you ask most people what their aspirations are for their career, chances are they\u2019ll rattle off items from that list.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>But if this is what it means to be successful, then why are so many people with all of these things miserable, sleep-deprived, anxious, and even clinically depressed?<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s because these metrics represent one narrow definition of success that <strong>does not apply to every person<\/strong>. In fact, they probably apply to very few of us.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3>Success is <em>personal<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>If someone is massively depressed or anxious as a result of their job, I would argue they are <em>not<\/em> successful. Remember that for most of us, a job is about earning an income, which is necessary to enable other aspects of our lives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Most of us believe our success is tied to wealth and status because that\u2019s what we\u2019re told. But we know that wealth has rapidly diminishing returns. We know that for people with strong <em>inner<\/em> contentment, the idea of status is irrelevant. So why do so many of us supposedly desire this kind of success?<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s down to definitions. A very small number of people are truly driven by growth and money and fame. The rest of us aren\u2019t like that; we\u2019re driven by ten thousand other things. Being parents. Charitable efforts. DIY. Dancing. Caring for your grandmother. Traveling. Dating. Building a community. Getting fit. Financial independence. The list is literally endless.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/benjamin-davies-FiZTaNTj2Ak-unsplash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-52072\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/benjamin-davies-FiZTaNTj2Ak-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"It's ok to stay put in your career if it makes you more content overall\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The problem is that we\u2019re told success doesn\u2019t come from these things. Western society says your self-worth and identity are inexorably tied to your income and job title. <strong>Fortunately, you don\u2019t have to listen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3>Redefine success for yourself<\/h3>\n<p>Fundamentally, finding contentment in your job means understanding that work is just one component of your life. So consider the other components; the other demands on your time and the areas where you can find fulfillment. If your current job allows you to have all the <em>other<\/em> components of your life exactly how you want them\u2026 then why would you put additional burdens on yourself for work?<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s okay to say, \u201cI\u2019m finishing work for the day, same as I have for 10 years. Now I\u2019m going to do X thing that brings me real fulfillment.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Think hard about the most important things in your life, and do whatever makes sense in nurturing those things. If that means climbing the ladder at work, then do it. If it means working 4 hours a day and never getting promoted, then do it and be successful in the only way that matters\u2014internally.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>What are your career aspirations?<\/h2>\n<p>Say you\u2019re an aeronautical engineer. You\u2019ve got a salary you\u2019re comfortable with and do work that fascinates you\u2014it stimulates your creativity and it delights you with exceptional reward when you solve problems. It\u2019s everything you\u2019d hoped for back at university!<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>But you\u2019ve been in the role for a few years now. The colleagues you trained with have all gone to bigger, higher-paying management or consultancy roles. And now you get offered a big \u201cpromotion,\u201d too, with a bumper pay rise, and a full team of your own to manage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Society and peer pressure say you need to accept this because:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Think about the money\u2026<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s a great opportunity\u2026<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t want to become obsolete\u2026<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re standing still, you\u2019re going backwards\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But is the salary worth changing your role? Is the status of a new job title worth giving up your creatively challenging and complex work? Or would you be <strong>more successful by staying where you are?<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chris-montgomery-smgTvepind4-unsplash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-52073\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.sogosurvey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chris-montgomery-smgTvepind4-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Working remotely can help you find the right work life balance\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The prevailing narrative says that you should always be pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. But that\u2019s the problem with these catch-all rules: they just never apply to everyone. Sometimes it\u2019s okay to be comfortable, steady, or predictable at work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Most of us have very short-term viewpoints, but justify them with long-term statements. We chase promotions <em>now<\/em> in order to \u201csecure our future.\u201d But what gets lost in all this is the <em>present<\/em>\u2014the only time that you truly experience.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>So, if your career goal is to establish a decent income and work 30 hours a week indefinitely, why would you listen to people who call you lazy or unambitious? Unlike most of us, you actually know who you are and what you want.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Last month, world number one tennis player, Ashleigh Barty, retired at 25 years old. In prime physical condition and dominating the tour\u2019s biggest events, she said she had given everything to tennis but simply had other ambitions she needed to fulfill. That amount of perspective in a 25-year-old is staggering, and a fantastic lesson for all of us.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>What is your right income?<\/h2>\n<p>Most of us think of career growth in terms of salary growth and, therefore, feel a need to ascend the ranks. Too few workers think of growth in terms of becoming <em>better able to do the job<\/em>; better at working with customers, improving their craft, and getting more done in less time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In most parts of the US, a household income of around $45,000 means that all of your base needs can be met: food, water, housing, education, caring for your family, and so on. And so, anywhere above this number you can find your \u201cright income\u201d\u2014the amount you need to earn to live a fulfilling life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Unless your hand is forced (e.g. your actual role is being transformed along with major company changes, or unforeseen financial trouble strikes), you don\u2019t actually need to keep changing roles.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Acceptance of income is extremely rare. Anyone reading this can probably count on one hand the number of peers who are legitimately happy with their (non-millionaire!) income, and wouldn\u2019t change their role for more money.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The laws of physics don\u2019t dictate that the cost of your lifestyle is always increasing. That\u2019s a choice. It\u2019s heavily pressured by a highly materialist popular culture, but it\u2019s still a choice, and one you\u2019re perfectly entitled to reject.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found a job that pays you <em>enough<\/em>, you are under no obligation to \u201cclimb\u201d anywhere else.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Staying happy with staying put<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s a broad assumption that we all want to \u201cmove up\u201d in companies and roles. That we have to do this. This is flatly not true. Unfortunately, those who could be called \u201ccontent\u201d or \u201ccomfortable\u201d are instead often labeled \u201clazy\u201d or \u201cunambitious\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>There is nothing wrong with wanting more. There should be nothing wrong with <em>not<\/em> wanting more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In today\u2019s work environment it takes a profound effort to stay where you are. To recognize that your life is a balance, and sometimes having your work as a constant is worth far more than a climb. Doing this requires you to resist a persistent stigma\u2014but the reward for just doing <em>enough<\/em> can be life-changing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>When was the last time you checked in on balance in your workplace?<\/strong> If &#8220;right now&#8221; sounds good, we&#8217;ve got just the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/survey-templates\/employee\/employee-work-life-balance-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">work-life balance survey template<\/a> for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the west, our work culture has a real \u201cstanding still is going backwards\u201d mentality. We have all become convinced that progression is the ultimate goal in any career. This is combined with a strong need for status in the form of material wealth and a perceived \u201csuccess.\u201d But if that\u2019s true, where does the progression stop? When do we allow ourselves to be content in a role &#8212; to have reached the end destination, at least for a few years? In this article we\u2019re going to explore whether it\u2019s actually okay\u2014perhaps better, even\u2014to \u201chave enough\u201d and to stay still in business. To do this, we\u2019re going to look at a few areas: What does success really mean? What are your life aspirations? What is your right income? What does success mean to you? We all recognize the signs of a successful career: salary, promotions, responsibility, job title, office size, bonuses, perks, and so on. If you ask most people what their aspirations are for their career, chances are they\u2019ll rattle off items from that list. But if this is what it means to be successful, then why are so many people with all of these things miserable, sleep-deprived, anxious, and even clinically depressed? It\u2019s because these metrics represent one narrow definition of success that does not apply to every person. In fact, they probably apply to very few of us. Success is personal If someone is massively depressed or anxious as a result of their job, I would argue [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":5040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,156,75],"tags":[383,646,564,241,282,423,168,208,382,210],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why It&#039;s Un(Acceptable) for Employees to Stay Put - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you wondering why &#039;success&#039; in the conventional sense doesn&#039;t hold the value it should for you? Many of us do! Join us as we explore more!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/why-employees-dont-stay-put\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why It&#039;s Un(Acceptable) for Employees to Stay Put - Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you wondering why &#039;success&#039; in the conventional sense doesn&#039;t hold the value it should for you? Many of us do! Join us as we explore more!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/why-employees-dont-stay-put\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-05-12T18:14:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-05-12T20:40:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/emp-3.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"487\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"714\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jake Burgess\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/why-employees-dont-stay-put\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/why-employees-dont-stay-put\/\",\"name\":\"Why It's Un(Acceptable) for Employees to Stay Put - Sogolytics Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-05-12T18:14:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-05-12T20:40:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e31925fdcd74025f92fb3b1695e61a8f\"},\"description\":\"Are you wondering why 'success' in the conventional sense doesn't hold the value it should for you? 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