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Many of us have been there, gladly accepting a job offer for a position that promises to fulfill us at an organization with a mission that mirrors our individual sense of justice. However, 3 months, or even 3 years in, some things start to change. Your boss is demanding that you lower the quality of your work in order to produce more of it. Your company gets distracted from its core mission and starts to act without strategy. Whatever the change, it isn't good. And you’re left thinking about how you got into this predicament: working at a job that threatens your own values.
Where do you turn? The obvious thought that probably comes to mind is to consider an exit strategy. That’s not a bad thought. However, I would urge you to think through your next steps by first considering 2 key questions.
- Is the threat to my personal values greater than the good work that I am doing here?
- Do I have power in this situation to be the change for good?
First, evaluate the threat to your values. Maybe you decide that while your boss’ demands are not exactly bringing out the best in you, the overall work you are producing is still something of which you can be proud. Or maybe the subpar work you are pressured to produce is just too embarrassing. Maybe your company’s lack of strategy bothers you but you can find hope and satisfaction in focusing on your individual role’s contribution to the mission. Or maybe the company’s direction leaves you without hope or explanation, forcing you to question exactly where you’re going and where you’re leading your team.
Next, make an assessment about the power you have in this dilemma. If you don’t have position power, do you have any influence power? Does leadership know you’re an influencer and look to you to assess employee morale? Can you organize with others who are facing the same threat to their values? When it comes down to it, can you be the force for change? Seriously. It may sound cheesy but if you can be the change, you’ll likely be helping more than just yourself in the process. If you can’t be the change—it’s bigger than you or your attempts at being the change have further alienated you from the company—then, yes, it’s time for you to go. You haven’t failed. You’ve clarified your limits and what’s important to you. And you can go do your good work elsewhere.
How have you had your personal values challenged at work? Tell us about it in the comments below.