The key is to maintain equilibrium and not be pulled too far in any direction. It's a fine balance between persisting and letting go, especially for individuals who strongly identify with a cause. Recognizing the signs indicating that it's time to stop fighting and move on can be challenging, both in personal and professional aspects. Knowing when to give up or continue pushing forward is crucial, but it's a complex decision influenced by various factors within the organization and personal conviction.
In the nearly five years since launching this podcast, our inbox has received one type of question more than any other: “If I’m trying to change a system that just doesn’t want to change, how do I keep going? When should I admit defeat and leave?” As people who function as “professional resistance” in organizations all over the world, this questions always hits us hard—because change itself is hard and often can lead to burnout.
So we’re finally having this conversation out in the open to tackle why the people who care the most are the ones who leave. Rodney and Sam dig into why burnout is so common among change agents, how to identify signs of meaningful progress, and when individuals and leaders should see the writing on the wall and throw in the towel.
Oh, and we're on Instagram now! Check us out there for fun behind the scenes stuff and extra things you won't find anywhere else.
To see the video version of this episode, head on over to Youtube.
Mentioned references:
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Read the book that started it all at bravenewwork.com.