Management
Issue No. 66 - August/September 2012
When is it time to walk away?
by Linda Chaousis
Have you ever persevered in a situation, thinking you just had to try harder, or give the benefit of the doubt for what felt like the millionth time? When you finally walked away and closed the door was there an overriding sense of relief that made you think ‘Why on earth did it take so long?’
In recent times I have talked with many friends, clients and family members faced with this situationboth in business and their personal lives. I’ve certainly faced it myself.
Walking away is not something to be taken lightly when it comes to business. It takes courage, discernment and at times, fortitude. The cost of staying in a situation can outweigh any consequences of walking away.
I have severed ties with business associates who were sloppy in client care and the professional presentation of my brand-or theirs.
I’ve declined potentially lucrative consulting offers from senior managers whose abusive attitude toward staff contradicted my business values.
I’ve cut ties with a business coach whose advice was more ego-driven than focused on growing my business in the manner I desired.
I’ve walked away from two service providers: one who caused me stress and angst with their unreliable service and another whom I caught in a huge lie relating to research they were doing for my business.
None of these situations were easy, and some severed ties permanently. In retrospect, I don’t regret any of those decisions to move on. They provided the oppo...
