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This article is from "Her Next Move" by Deepali Vyas, an executive search expert. Vyas is one of The Washington Post's Featured Voices, a co-production with independent creators.
One of the hardest career questions I get asked isn't "Should I quit?" It's how to know whether to stay and push harder, go for the promotion or start planning your exit.
Most people make this decision based entirely on how they feel in a given week. One frustrating performance review. One bad conversation with a manager. One moment of feeling invisible.
That isn't enough information to make a decision this important.
In my 25 years in executive search, I've seen that the strongest career moves rarely come from frustration. They come from being clear about what's working, what isn't and how much leverage you've built.
Score your environment
To bring some objectivity to what is usually an emotional conversation, I use what I call the "Elite Career Scorecard," a framework I developed from my years in executive search.
It looks at five dimensions. Score each one from 1 to 3.
Money: Are you being compensated fairly for the value you create? Not just what the market pays in general, but what someone with your track record and results should be earning.
Culture: Does this environment allow you to do your best work? Or are you spending more energy navigating office politics than doing the job?
Growth: Are you still learning, expanding your scope and building career capital? Or have you stopped growing in this role?
Sponsorship: Is there someone with real influence in your organization who says your name in rooms you're not in? Performance alone doesn't get you promoted. Advocacy does.
Network: Is this role expanding the quality and reach of your professional relationships? Or are you more isolated than when you started?
[Insert Elite Career Scorecard graphic]
Look for the pattern, not the moment
A low score in any one area is worth paying attention to. But a pattern of low scores across several dimensions is telling you something important about where your career risk is building.
Here's how to read your results:
All 3s: Protect it.
Mixed: Weigh the three-year trajectory.
Mostly 1s and 2s: You are paying emotional tax without equity.
One bad week doesn't tell you much. A consistent pattern does.
Know your leverage before you decide
Before you make any move, ask yourself three more questions:
What leverage have I actually built?
What evidence do I have of my value?
Is there a credible path to getting what I want here?
If you've been keeping a record of your accomplishments, this is where it pays off. That evidence is what gives you options, whether you're negotiating to stay or preparing to go.
Leaving from a position of leverage is completely different from leaving from a position of frustration. One is a strategy. The other is just a reaction.
Score the environment. Understand your leverage. Then decide.
This story is part of Featured Voices by Washington Post Creator, a team outside The Washington Post’s newsroom. Featured Voices highlights content from our network of independent creator who share their expertise, perspective and stories with The Washington Post.
