The Simple Framework for Making Tough Decisions: Quit or Persist?

Should I stay or should I go? In this article, Laura Williams explores Steven Bartlett’s simple yet effective “Quitting Framework,” which helps individuals decide when to persist and when to move on from a project or role

How do you know when enough is enough? I mean, if it’s a packet of Jammy Dodgers, you sort of know that the fifth one is pushing it (maybe!). But when it comes to a project or even your role, it’s surprisingly tricky to know when to see it through or when to walk away.

A while ago I was scrolling on LinkedIn (not as bad as scrolling on Instagram because it’s work-related, right?) and I came across Steven Bartlett’s Quitting Framework.

If you don’t know who Steven Bartlett is, he’s a British entrepreneur and general business guru who moonlights as a Dragons’ Den dragon and happens to host one of the world’s most successful podcasts, Diary of a CEO.

A Simple Theory

He developed his quitting framework after realising that he had walked away from two companies without hesitation or doubt, and he believed others could benefit from understanding his thought process. What I love about it is how simple he makes it. So, if you’re thinking about quitting a project, changing jobs, or making any other major quitting decision, try this approach first:

Are you thinking about quitting? If so, why? Is it too hard or does it just suck? If it’s hard, is the challenge worth the reward? If it is, power through and stay put. If it’s not, it might be time to move on.

If it sucks, do you think you can make it suck less? If not, it might be time to move on. If you can improve your situation, what do you need to do to improve it and is it worth it? If so, stay and get to it. If not, get going! Is it an oversimplification? Perhaps!

Deciding with Conviction

But sometimes, having a clearcut and objective strategy to help you make a decision that’s not driven by emotion is exactly what you need. That way you can either walk away knowing you tried your best or stay with the conviction of knowing you made the right choice.

Maybe the answer is ‘not yet’ or ‘not sure’. In this case, set a deadline for yourself to go through this exercise again and see what’s changed – if anything. If you find yourself struggling this week and wondering if something is worth your time and effort, give the quitting framework a go.

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