Ready to Deliver More and Lead When the Opportunity isn't Available
It may be time to move towards where invitations are presenting themselves
Excelling at one’s work, being a high performer in the industry and part of a successful, respected organization is rewarding yet it may not be fulfilling if one knows they can do and offer more and the pathway for it is not available to them.
That’s how Kelsey Plum was feeling and she’s likely not alone, if you believe what people say and write online about their jobs, employers and careers.
Plum was the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft and to date, has the third highest “win shares” value of any player from that talent acquisition class. She was a part of two championship teams with the Las Vegas Aces, was named the Sixth Player of the Year in 2021 and has been a three-time All Star.
She’s delivered at a respected and honored level. Yet something was missing for her.
"Every year, and you come back, and you're like playing on a great team, you're willing to sacrifice, do whatever it takes, but I think there's a point where you start to feel like you're underappreciated,” Plum told Sue Bird on the "Bird's Eye View" podcast, to explain why she wanted to move to a new organization, the Los Angeles Sparks.
“I needed a fresh start personally. I needed a fresh start professionally and I felt like my growth was kind of capped in Vegas," Plum added.
There was more going on in her mind than an ambition to improve as an individual.
"I know I can lead but the opportunity is not here,” Plum said of her former employer, the Las Vegas franchise.
And there’s the rub.
Leading was what she was ready to do, felt equipped to accomplish and yet, where she was working, that space for her was not going to be possible.
She decided to see if she could move on, for more than the reasons listed above.
"I could finish my career in Vegas and probably could be an All-Star a couple more times, try to go back and win championships,” Plum said. “But like, can I ever reach the capacity on the player that I know that I can be?
“I know I have a lot more in the tank and I know that I can lead.”
Underappreciation doesn't feel good. Not being able to do what you know you are capable of doing and want to do hurts inside.
Being in a successful organization is less gratifying when you know you're sacrificing for the collective yet you feel excessively limited as far as your professional growth and personal satisfaction.
Knowing clearly if and when it's time depart an organization for a greater opportunity is a task that must be undertaken.
“You leave the minute when resentment starts piling up and you feel like you need to wash off the emotional weight of your job at the end of each day,” says Jamie Martin, an executive coach specializing in helping women in STEM assert their authority and expertise to secure influence and recognition.
“That's your signal that you can no longer advocate for yourself and need to make an exit plan,” she warns. “At this moment, you still see clearly what you need and want without leaving in desperation.”
It’s time to ask oneself questions and think about what matters, what is working well and what just doesn’t energize you any longer.
“Take a good look at your role and responsibilities. Then, imagine yourself firing at maximum capacity in that position. How does that make you feel,” asks Jesse Favre, a leadership trainer, speaker and founder at Jesse Favre Business Solutions.
“If the best case scenario still has you feeling trapped and limited, it’s time to think seriously about a bold move.”
She reflects on her own career and a powerful question that she had posed to her.
“I remember being in a similar position myself,” Favre says. “A career coach asked me, ‘Do you really want to be fighting this hard to become the captain of the Junior Varsity team?’ That question alone gave me the fuel and clarity I needed to leave my steady career and enter the higher-risk world of self-employment.”
Being easily-and-highly recognized in one's industry can be rewarding, as Plum experienced, yet she knew deep down inside that she wasn’t feeling as good about her work and career because there were greater heights and responsibilities calling her.
There are points that individuals in similar situations can and should be paying attention to where they can deliver greater personal results and be trusted and empowered to be assigned a leadership role and authority.
“To step into a leadership position, you have to start to network and interview like a leader would,” Martin stresses and advises. “No cold applications, no pitching an open job. Identify what you expect from an organization that would let you lead because now it is your turn to dig deep into the organization so you know how to say ‘yes.’”
She elaborates:
“You don't want to end up in the same type of organization that had your leadership capped,” Martin says. “It's time to ask questions that allow you to see behind the veneer and into the reality.”
What’s important to you and why?
“The key here is knowing your values,” Favre explains. “They can serve as a sort of ‘True North’ on a compass: you hold up the potential job opportunities and see if you’d stay in alignment with the best version of yourself.”
Appearances are not the focus.
“Some jobs look better on paper than in reality,” Favre says. “If your next step involves an interview, pull together some thoughtful questions that gauge whether your values will actually be honored.
“Titles and perks often matter far less than the culture and leadership opportunities in the long run, so keep your priorities front and center.”
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