Big news

I was offered a very big corporate role.

Big business.
Big compensation.
Big corner office.
The works.

On paper, it looked like a dream job.

But something didn’t feel right.

So I dug a bit deeper.

And the cracks started to show:

Overextended finances
High leadership and staff turnover
A culture driven by fear rather than trust
Lukewarm shareholder support
Strategically declining sector
Haemorrhaging clients

I almost said yes.

My ego certainly loved the idea.

The title.
The status.
The compensation.
The brag.

Sure, I could have thrown myself into a turnaround.

But a big title can quickly become a very public sinking ship if the fundamentals aren’t sound.

So I said no.

Turning it down was hard.

Was it the right decision?

Who knows.

What I do know if that our judgement can get distorted when status enters the equation.

Psychologists call it “social signalling”. We are wired to pay attention to markers of success such as title, compensation, office size, prestige and recognition.

The problem is that these signals are often highly visible, while the things that really determine success are often hidden.

Culture.
Leadership quality.
Political dynamics.
Financial health.
Values alignment.
The ability to sleep well at night.

I’ve seen more than one leader take a role because they fell in love with the title, only to discover they had inherited problems that no title could solve.

And I’ve seen others turn down opportunities that looked impressive from the outside, only to go on and build careers and businesses that were far more fulfilling.

When I work with leaders who are considering a new role, we often explore questions like:

What’s really going on beneath the surface?
Are you being pulled by purpose or pushed by ego?
Does this opportunity align with your values, strengths and ambitions, or simply your vanity?
What would make this role a success three years from now?
If the title, money and prestige were removed, would you still want the job?

Those questions don’t always make the decision easier.

But they usually make it clearer.

Looking back, I still remember the excitement of being offered that role.

But I also remember the quiet voice in my gut telling me to look deeper.

I’m glad I listened.