Love it, change it or quit

Some people that are hiring us won’t like to read what I’m writing about today… Even though it should be in their best interest.

I’ve been working with many managers that gave up their values, their real opinions and by that themselves at a certain point when they have the feeling that they aren’t heard or not in the position to shape the company's future any more. They basically give up and stop taking responsibility.

In some cases I understand that they don’t believe in changing the organization anymore. Unfortunately, many aren’t willing to take the next necessary step by quitting and moving on - they rather stay and hope for something to happen or start blaming (and whining).
I think that many feel like giving up by quitting. They are afraid of what comes next - clinging to the past instead of welcoming the future. (No good trait for a modern lead in an always changing world).
This is a real problem for individuals and the whole organization. Since some managers don’t listen to feedback and don’t start changing things sometimes you can only lead by quitting and send a signal into the team that something needs to be changed or people will leave.

If you really want to be a lead and role model and you want to keep your integrity (lead by values) then you have to take responsibility and leave some organizations to change them and stay yourself. I know that this isn’t easy but it might be the only way to stay yourself and what you stand for.
I don’t want you to run away from problems but after giving adequate feedback over a certain time, move on and be happy somewhere else.

And by the way: Once you have the option to move on you’ll have much more leverage in negotiations and maybe you’ll finally make the needed changes right there where you are.