Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters

Organizational psychologist Klotz debuts with an enlightening exploration of “jolts,” events that trigger people to stop and reflect on their relationship with work, sometimes quitting as a result. He contends that “most of us are one event away from leaving our job,” describing a variety of jolts and their impact on one’s personal and professional life. Overt harassment and ostracism are “direct jolts” that affect one’s sense of well-being, while “collateral jolts” are a sort of quitting contagion; he shares the story of attending an educational conference where he learned several colleagues were thinking of leaving the university where they all worked. While none of the three actually changed jobs, Klotz did: “The jolt of my coworkers’ job searches changed my feelings about my relationship with work in a way that led me to dabble in the job market.” Practical and thoughtful sections offer tips like “Seven Ways to Leave Your Employer,” which includes the “grateful goodbye,” in which an employee provides more notice than is expected or required and communicates the decision in person, while expressing gratitude and appreciation for the organization. It’s an informative toolkit for navigating the ups and downs of one’s career. (Mar.)