I Quit: To Follow the Leader

“I Quit” is an ongoing series of posts where women share the reasons for leaving their jobs. The series was started in 2021 during the pandemic.

As told to SaveYourSelf.biz

I love being second in charge. The medium kahuna. The lady who makes the mediocre bucks. The woman behind the other woman.

COO to the CEO.

Deputy Director to the Executive Director.

Vice President to the President.

Manager to the Director.

No, I don’t see it as settling. I thrive in the second-banana role. I love making my company and my bosses look great. I love elevating them. As they rise, so do I and so does the rest of the team. My boss knows I have her back. She can step away and things won’t fall apart. I don’t need to be the face of an organization nor do I need the spotlight. In fact, as a former publicist, working behind the scenes is in my DNA.

I have served in these types of leadership roles in the past, the top position. At times, I loved it. If something went wrong, there was only one neck to ring—mine. I was held accountable for my organization or my team. I did it, relentlessly.

Now that I’m back in the two-spot, I really enjoy it even more. I relish the (sort of) anonymity that comes with being the No. 2 gal or a few steps down the ladder. I enjoy having the extra cover if things go wrong.

Here are a couple of other benefits of stepping back:

I especially enjoy having a full weekend off, here and there. In my previous role, I couldn’t recall the last time I didn’t work an entire weekend.

I can enjoy taking a vacation and not leaving my family at the resort/island/foreign country to go put out a fire and then return to finish up the trip (Disney World-Vancouver, B.C.-Disney World.) Or worse, bail on my family the day they are leaving for a trip. (Ireland. Was that today?)

I certainly don’t miss the endless days in the airport, gate crowding with the rest of the early boarders. My favorite carrier has assigned seating and a guaranteed overhead spot. Why are we doing this again?

And while I love nice hotels with their comfy beds and robes and cozy slippers, I love sleeping in my own bed a few more nights a year, with my puppy-chewed slippers at my side (132 nights was my craziest year as a hotel guest).

So, I quit my leadership role to take some of the weight off my shoulders.  

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