Should I Give Up My Job to Secure My Team's Future? Seeking Advice on a Tough Decision

Decision-Making in Job Security and Team Support

I am working overseas in XXX company as an EHS professional (Lead), earning a salary beyond my expectations. I have a strong team, and together we have achieved many targets and milestones in our program/project.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I learned that we lost our contract, although we have a project that will take at least 6+ months to complete. However, I am on another program/project with a 5+ year contract, so I don't have any personal job security issues. My question is: What will happen to my team, which we have built over the last couple of years, after 6 months? I have four team members, all experts in specific tasks, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. They are all married, while I am single.

In this situation, I am considering sacrificing my job for them so that someone can take my position and secure a job for the next 5+ years. I hope they will need at least two more EHS personnel to run the project, which means three of my teammates will have jobs for the next five years. I need to ensure one more team member is taken care of.

A couple of months ago, my boss sacrificed his job to give us a chance as a leader. He supported us in all situations, even when we made mistakes. I am contemplating doing the same for my team. Is this the right decision at this time? How can I best support my team in this situation? I don't want to see my team searching for jobs while I am employed elsewhere.

I hope to find a job in a few weeks (I have already started searching for a new challenge) and rebuild my team if I get a chance in the same organization, though I doubt I will find a better salary than this.

Note: Even if I don't get a long-term contract or permanent job, I am confident I will find a short-term contract to advance my career until I secure a long-term contract or permanent position. Someone might ask why I can't work with my team for the next six months. I believe I should be proactive and not give XXX company the chance to make a decision for me.

Your suggestions or advice on this matter would be highly appreciated.

Regards.

I have gone through your query and would like you to answer mine. What is the SPECIFIC REASON for leaving your current job? Do you really think that you are SACRIFICING YOUR JOB for the sake of your team members? Don't you think that by LEAVING THIS JOB, you are MOVING AHEAD IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER? Don't you think your ex-boss did the same thing?

Alternatively, you may consider the opinion mentioned below. Let me share my experience with you. I hope you are familiar with this proverb "MEN MAY COME, MEN MAY GO."

I was employed with an organization holding the 2nd position in the hierarchy. I too created a small team of young, passionate professionals to carry out various activities. With full speed, we were delivering our services, hoping to bring desired changes gradually. By all means, I did my best, which is recorded in the history of that organization. I left a benchmark in setting a system that produced results, though there were a bunch of employees always opposing my decisions as they were employed for long and habitual of buttering up my boss to secure their job. Due to some conflict between me and my boss, I had decided to quit. I too thought, what will happen to this organization post-resignation? Will they be able to manage without my services? It's more than two and a half years now, they are able to manage the show the way it was prior to my appointment.

I still want to join back the same organization, but I am not interested in working with the same boss as he lacks vision and no interest in his organization. When he is not taking up the accountability and responsibility for developing his organization, why should I? This relates to the proverb "EMPLOYEES LEAVE THEIR MANAGERS/BOSS BUT NOT COMPANIES."

Since I am a Muslim practicing Islam, I strongly believe in the ALMIGHTY. I personally feel that I cannot do anything without His will/permission. Don't think beyond your limits as you cannot predict anything about your future. No one knows what may happen next, and you are talking about long-duration contracts. Move ahead and synchronize yourself with TIME, and do try to interpret and understand the prevailing situations. Be positive and THINK POSITIVE all the time. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE will help you make better decisions as you need to choose between the options you have.

Wish good luck to your team; keep in touch with them.

With profound regards

It's good to know that you are ready to sacrifice your job for your team, but are you sure they will be able to manage in your absence, as you have mentioned that they all have some weak points? I am asking you to check this because it should not happen that you leave, and later they will be asked to go if they are not good performers.

There is another option. You have been in this field for some time now, so I am sure you must have built good relationships with your clients. Why don't you try to use their recommendations to get more projects for the organization? I know it won't be easy, but it's not impossible. If you are able to get a breakthrough, then no one will have to leave the job.

Regards,
Anita

If you change this job, will you be able to find another that will help you grow in your career? If so, there is no harm in changing. However, if you can explore other options within the same company where you can get more projects and work with your team, that would be even better. Your team members may also find better job opportunities within the company. If you can find ways to stay in the company by working on different projects, then go ahead; otherwise, it's better to focus on your career and move forward. As Abdul Khader said, whoever goes or comes, the show must go on.

Situations can change at any time, so think and act wisely. All the best!

As you said, there is no chance to get another job with the salary you are currently receiving. If salary doesn't matter, then go ahead. But can your team manage in your absence? If they do not perform well, then management may seek other resources, and your efforts will be in vain. Instead of leaving the job, why don't you secure a job for your team member? Think twice before making a decision.

Best regards,
Vijay

The message reveals your personal character. It's good to be human and think in this direction. I am happy to be a friend of yours. However, we need to be practical in life too, and I also agree with Mr. Khadir.

The Importance of Practicality in Career Decisions

Sacrificing a job is not a matter to be taken lightly. But for how long can you sustain this? Today, you are single and can manage. After moving to a new job, you will again find a good team. When you leave that company, what will be your future course of action? I am posing this question because it may not be your last company to work with.

Developing a Team vs. Personal Sacrifice

You were a good team player and had developed your team. I personally feel that developing a team is more important than making sacrifices. Also, you can afford to sacrifice a job until you get married. After marriage, your personal interests will become more important than common interests, potentially leading to conflicts.

This time, since you have considered this, I don't want to discourage you, as there are always openings. It's your call.

Focus on Building a Talented Team

Rather than focusing on sacrifice, concentrate more on developing a good and talented team who can find jobs as they wish and stand in life without your sacrifice. That will hold great value for you.

Feelings always differ from person to person, and in that way, I have given my personal opinion. It may differ from yours, but this is the reality. I hope you understand me.

Regards,

Thanks for sharing your experience and your view in a positive way. I have built a good relationship with my organization, and I don't have any problems with any of my organization members yet. I'm just worried about my team, and I need to give a chance to my players. I hope it's the right time for them to prove themselves.

I need to see their real strength. If they prove themselves, the credit goes to them. If they fail, surely I will take the blame because they haven't failed; I have. I believe in this quote: "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." —Jack Welch.

What is the SPECIFIC REASON for leaving your current job?

I need to see the growth of my players. If they fail, I'll take the blame, but they will gain experience from their failure, and that experience will help them to set a benchmark in their careers.

"It's important to give it all you have while you have the chance."

Do you really think that you are SACRIFICING YOUR JOB for the sake of your team members?

Of course, although I suppose to say "giving a chance" instead of "sacrificing."

Don't you think that by LEAVING THIS JOB, you are MOVING AHEAD IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER?

I believe in myself more than anything. "If doubt is challenging you and you do not act, doubts will GROW. Challenge the doubts with action, and YOU will grow." —John Kanary.

Don't you think your ex-boss did the same thing?

I hope so.

Even though I move away from them, I'll help them whenever they need it, at any time, in any case.

Thanks, Mr. skhadir.

Regards.

You raised a good question: "Are you sure they will be able to manage in your absence?" That's what I need to see now. When I entered this organization, I had a very hard time, especially with my boss, who gave me a very hard time. In those situations, I often asked myself, "Why me?" When he left and gave me a chance, I got the answer to the question of "WHY ME?" They can perform; they will not fail because I believe in them more than they believe in themselves.

Our minimum project value starts at XXX million dollars, and we are working directly for the US government. We'll see what happens, and I'll update you. However, thanks for your input on my query.

Regards,
Raghu

Thanks for your practical view. As soon as I move somewhere, if I get a chance to rebuild my team, I surely will. As I mentioned in my previous replies, they can make it happen (I hope they will not let me down).

“Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance” - Dempsey, Jack.

Without facing failures, we can't learn anything in our life. There's no reward in life without risk. - by Farber, Barry J.

Thanks.

Rather than focusing on sacrifice, focus more on developing a good & talented team

Rather than focusing on sacrifice, concentrate on developing a good and talented team who can find jobs as per their wishes and stand in life without your sacrifice. That gives great value to you.

That's what I learned from this incident. I'll never make the same mistake again in my life. My boss did his job perfectly; I think I haven't done my job yet with my team.

Whatever you mentioned, I 100% agree with that, but...

Just this morning, I received a call from my ex-boss, and I explained the situation. He advised me to stay for a couple of weeks. I am also getting some positive emails from my colleagues, so I hope all will be fine.

If you want to be successful, you must either have a chance or take one. (In this case, I need to take one...)

Every man has the right to risk his own life in order to preserve it. Has it ever been said that a man who throws himself out the window to escape from a fire is guilty of suicide? – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Note: This is the time and age to take the risk. If I fail, it won't affect anybody except me. If I win, most of them will benefit, so I'm ready to take the risk/challenge.

Regards.

Embracing Change and Adaptability

Your thought is clearly stated that your team is not in a difficult situation. You are in a confused state. You may get another job, and your team may continue that project without you. Whatever the situation, we must be ready to accept change and modify according to our situation. Adaptability is a basic quality for every human. Our life has many ups and downs, and it will end at a certain stage. During that period, we must be ready to face the challenge whenever it comes. "Time and tide wait for no man," so when an opportunity arises, we must utilize it. By seizing your opportunity, you can move forward in your career growth and create an opportunity for your team to showcase their talents and abilities successfully without any dependency.

You mentioned that all your team members are married, so their families depend on them. They have to handle real-time projects independently throughout their lives.

Regards

I have read this thread with interest. Not many will view the situation from the same viewpoint as yours. However, your concern for your teammates is laudable. I hope you will have opportunities to employ your ex-teammates who may be out of luck and not get fixed up.

Wishing you all the best.

On 22/11, you wrote in your plan about sacrificing your job for the team members. On 3/12, you posted that you entered into a new job contract. This indicates that you were in the process of switching from your current job to another one much earlier. Otherwise, within a short span of 10 days, a new job agreement would not have materialized unless you had significant influence. So, I don't see any sacrifice here; you simply moved for better prospects.

Pon