Know when to walk away...

We could heed some advice, as effective followers, from the writings of Kenny Rogers in his song entitled, The Gambler". The main chorus states,

"You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."

We have to hold onto these principles as effective followers as well. There is a time to hold onto your job and a time to end it; a time to transition out of your job slowly and deciding to leave quicker than later. Knowing these tactics takes perception and judgement. There is a time when discomfort comes into our current work situation where we need to evaluate what is truly going on with this situation. A variety of issues could be at hand. Let's discuss some of them to give weight to this crucial topic:

1. Organizational Dysfunction
This is an area that has to be sorted out individually to see what the impact is going to be upon you as an effective follower. As stated in other articles, effective followers can help an organization transition through the difficult dysfunction that comes with change. This is when the effective follower can step up to the plate and offer themselves fully to the mission of the organization. The leaders need followers who are willing to stand by them at any cost. With that being said, there are also organizations that are truly disorganized and dysfunctional. The effective follower knows when his efforts are not being responded to and the organization drags the individual down further into complacency. This stage is where a lot of followers find themselves, in an alienated follower role. This is where someone has been injured by the organization and they become cynical, with a "see, I told you so" mentality. A good leader will recognize when a follower has switched to this mentality and will try to revive them back to their full capacity. It is not long before that person ends up a yes person or a sheep within the organization. This is not a healthy place to be. If you are effective in your followership role, you will recognize that something is not healthy about the organization and will seek other employment. If it is something that you feel you have time to look for other employment, do so, but also know when to run.

2. Unethical Organizations
We have all heard about these in the news lately and perhaps some of us have worked for organizations that we thought were unethical. If we find ourselves in this type of environment, the best thing to do is to get out as soon as possible. This atmosphere is implosive and can cause many to fall victim to the immorality within the walls of the organization. do not even think about leaving...run. I had to do this for an organization I worked for about 10 years back and I never regretted the decision. I had to find temporary work for awhile, but God provided because of my obedience to truth.

3. Over-qualification
Are you overqualified for your position? Many who hold their current positions are. Effective followers can sometimes get over this fact as they are enabled by their leader to do task outside of their normal work load. But in most organizations, job dissatisfaction runs high amongst employees. This is due to a lack of stimulation with a certain task but also it can come by critically thinking about your current task and discovering an innovative way to complete your task, but then being told by your supervisor, "That is not how we do it here." Even the strongest research can not break some organizations of their sacred cows. Have you ever read the book, "Sacred cows make the best burgers"? This controversial book has a great premise. There are cows wandering around the street that we call sacred, but yet the people around are starving. The only way for us to survive is to make burgers. If an organization is holding onto the way things used to be and not being innovative, but you as an effective follower can not help being innovative, then it may be time for you to look for employment that is looking for innovation. This is an over-qualification. Critical thinking skills differ within an organization. You could have reactive, verses critical, thinkers managing or running organizations. This organization will not last long with a lack of innovation. Know when to walk away and know when to run.

4. Loss of Integrity
An effective follower would generally not get themselves into situations where they loose their integrity, but occasionally it happens. It is better for an individual to step away from that organization when they have fallen rather than face the constant judgements from the organization's members for the remainder of their time with the organization. Reputations carry on within organizations and the gossip of employees does not cease even though the issue resolves itself. It is difficult to be an effective follower when your reputation has been scarred. God is a God of grace and offers forgiveness to those who are able to cry out to Him, but mankind generally is not, sad but true.

Don't count your money when you are sitting at the table. There will be time enough when you are gone. In other words, an effective follower stays actively engaged to their task while they are employed with the organization. There are exiting signs that leaders look for from their employees. Some signs are obvious, such as increased personal phone calls, closed office doors and increased sick days. An employee looking to leave the organization may mentally check out. They will suddenly become passive and mute at staff meetings. Conversely, a normally quiet employee who turns into a chatter box may feel he or she has nothing to lose. There is time to make personal calls and search for another job on your personal time. Do not jeopardize your integrity by bringing your exiting signs to the workplace. There is time enough to do that when your work is done.

Leaving is not easy, especially in today's economy, but know when it is right for you so you can remain an effective follower in whatever task you are given.