How to Overcome the Fear of Leaving Your Job: A Real-Life Story

"I'm pretty worried about exiting my role. Not many people do what I'm about to do Josh."

My client was a partner at one of the big 4.

He always felt like there was more out there for himself and his family, something different, better, and more aligned to their values.

He found it an it was an amazing offer, which he decided to go for. 

But then the fear kicked in...

• "People don't often leave from partner level Josh!"
• "I just don't want to burn any bridges."
• "I think people will think I'm nuts for doing this."
• "What if it doesn't work out?"
• "What if it's not as good, and I sign myself up to a nightmare?"

We had a cut and dry case of emotional spiral thinking going on, which was actually making my client sick, killing his sleep and impacting his family (through his stress).

He was in this cycle for 6 days, ruminating before we spoke.

This tends to happen when we are worrying about something in the future.

Which hasn't happened yet. It doesn't exist.

Here is what we did...
➡️ We calmed the situation immediately using the 7:11 breathing technique (combined with some basic breathe in calm & clarity, breathe out fear of the unknown).
➡️ We then broke down what was actually happening here (emotional brain in charge), self-sabotaging, worrying about something that doesn't exist.
➡️ We regained perspective and anchored to some known things. This decision is about you and no one else, it's for you, it's right for you, and if they're good people they'll be on board, if they're not...then they're not your people anyway.
➡️ We built a plan. What was going to be said, to who, when, and a some contingencies for attempts to be kept on. We also built in self-care time pre and post.
➡️ We also drilled a load of breathing exercises pre-conversations, and did one (it was all he needed) emotional dump journal session.

We covered all that in our 45min coaching call. 

Guess what happened.
He was asked to stay as we predicted, he stood to his decision and his whole company sent him off with their best wishes.

And the best part. 
He'd conducted himself so well during his time there (because he's a bloody good bloke), and how he navigated his exit, that they invited him back if it didn't work out in the new role.

Wow! Safe to say he knocked that out the park.

Sometimes it just takes a second set of eyes and ears to help you regain control.