What are the risks of staying vs the risks of leaving academia?

What are the risks of staying vs the risks of leaving Academia?

So often, people focus on the risks of leaving academia. The risks can feel unknown, huge and insurmountable.

But...let's flip that narrative.

What are the risks of staying in academia?

When clients come to me for Coaching, they are often at the point of thinking 'there must be more to life than this!'

They are often surviving, not thriving.

They have lost their enthusiasm and joy for their research and/or teaching because of huge admin and workload pressures.

Change is scary. I understand that. And believe me, I have lived that too! But the alternative can be scary too, can't it?

Burnout

If you are overworked, exhausted and close to burnout (or experiencing burnout already), do the risks of staying in a job that is/has the potential to make you ill actually outweigh the risks of leaving?

Fear

Is fear stopping you even exploring alt-ac opportunities? Are you assuming that every job/career/workplace/organisation is the same so what is the point in investigating any alternatives to what you currently have?

So, what are the alternatives to academia then?

If you are pondering whether there is more to life than a hamster wheel of endless academic demands, you may also be wondering what the alternatives are.

I could tell you that there a thousands of options for meaningful work that will bring back your joy, enthusiasm and sense of purpose. But me telling you isn't going to make you believe me. Seeing it for yourself will.

This is one of the reasons I always say that your first step in transitioning out of academia is not applying for jobs.

What is the first step to leaving academia?

The more people you have in your network who you see having happy, fulfilling careers outside of academia, the more you will be able to consider it being possible for you.

Building your network

Expand your network beyond academia. Start with people you know who are alt-ac, grow your network through their network, then search for people in roles and organisations you think might be a good fit for you if/when you leave academia.

When you see possible alternatives that offer you more of the life you want, your attitude to risk may change.

Feeling Stuck?

If you are feeling stuck, miserable, stressed, critical, criticised and no longer 'yourself' because of your work life, I would suggest something needs to change. It may not be leaving academia, or it may be.

Clarity, Certainty and Confidence

Some of my clients gain clarity and practice new ways of working in academia as a result of our coaching sessions. They make changes to get more of the life they want without changing careers. Other clients know they want to leave academia and I coach them to gain clarity and mentor them to develop a solid strategy.

What I would love is that you gain clarity, certainty and confidence in your value. When we know our value, when we feel good about what we put out into the world, we feel braver and things that felt too risky before may not seem that risky after all.

Which leads me to one of my favourite quotations:

‘There is freedom waiting for you on the breezes of the sky,

And you ask, ‘What if I fall?’

Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?’

​(Erin Hanson)

For more tips on leaving academia successfully join the Alt Ac Careers Facebook Group.