When is it time to move on?

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."         

              Confucius

While there are many reasons why people stay in jobs that they no longer like, there comes a time when people need to question the value of staying with an employer where they may be over-invested.

If you are experiencing any of the following, you should seriously think about exploring alternative career options: 

1. Lack of upward mobility.
2. Waning support from your manager.
3. Offering of "so-called" opportunities that do not align with your career aspirations.
4. Biased, unfair or overly critical performance reviews based on hearsay or unsubstantiated allegations.
5. Reduced decision-making autonomy. 
6. Shrinking scope of key accountabilities/responsibilities. 
7. Lesser qualified and/or experienced co-workers are promoted in advance of you.
8. Pay increases or bonuses cease or are not reflective of your performance or the organization's performance. 
9. Continuing lack of support to deliver on mandates.
10. Your "political position" within the organization is demoted. 

True talent know they are free agents and have the right to demand organizational investment in their career growth, and likewise, great organizations "get this" and find ways to enable true talent to realize their full potential!

For an interesting article on how many managers violate common rules of workplace etiquette, see the following article appearing in the February 14, 2011 edition of The Wall Street Journal:  Five signs you're a bad boss.