Workplace Jiujitsu #16: Staying Longer To Avoid Reactive Decisions

Sometimes you hit a rough patch at work and the big question is whether this is temporary turbulence or a recurring pattern you haven't recognized yet.

Workplace Jiujitsu #16: Staying Longer To Avoid Reactive Decisions

I had to figure this out once. I walked into my manager's office to resign, then I walked it back. It wasn't because I changed my mind about the problems. It was because I realized I was making the decision with incomplete information.

The approach: Set a clear evaluation period with specific success criteria. What I thought would be three months turned into a full year of testing whether taking more ownership and driving process improvements would actually change the underlying issues.

That year had its ups and downs. There were some genuine improvements mixed with recurring systemic challenges. But it gave me the complete picture I needed. When I finally left, it was with better savings, clearer next steps, developed skills, and complete confidence that I'd given it an honest shot.

The lesson: Sometimes the most responsible move isn't a bold leap or quick exit. It's staying long enough to gather real data. But you need to actively test and improve, not just endure. The goal is clarity, not martyrdom.

When you leave with conviction instead of emotion, you don't leave with regrets.