- In 2020, I was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at startup The Living Lab.
- Burnout in my new role began to trigger my chronic anxiety, causing me to cry at work every week.
- After confirming that the demotion was financially viable, I requested a demotion from my boss in February.
In 2018, I was first hired by a real estate coaching firm after quitting my job as an agency public relations officer. By March 2020, I was promoted from Marketing Coach to Chief Operating Officer.
The pandemic was the beginning of my slow burnout journey. The company was already remote, but it still had its challenges like everyone else.
Had to juggle pandemic and new roles
In addition to providing new programs and coaching, it became my job to create much-needed operating procedures and recruit new roles.
The new responsibility of managing all departments and being everyone’s resource for problem solving, in addition to surviving the pandemic, has taken a toll on my mental health.
My anxiety seemed to grow with each passing day. I didn’t have the motivation to do anything but the bare minimum, and I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment in my work.
Everything came to a head in the summer. Over the course of two and a half years, my job slowly evolved into something I didn’t like.
I went from creating operational procedures and working closely with the shipping department to working in isolation and taking on responsibilities I don’t enjoy, such as training and managing the hiring of our sales team.
I also felt more and more responsible for the company’s financial success or failure.
After two and a half years in the role, I had reached my breaking point
The weight of this role triggered my chronic anxiety. I used to cry about my job at least once a week.
Being in charge of everything was not good for my mental health.
Stress brought into every aspect of my life. I was irritable, distracted by family and friends, and lacking the energy to decline social invitations. I knew I needed to make a change.
I wanted to get back to the marketing, branding, and creative work I loved.
I hated my job, but I didn’t want to leave the great team I had built.
Staying with the company and leaving management means going down the ladder.
I knew I wanted to be relegated, but I wanted to be confident in my choice
I needed to see if a demotion was financially viable before I could talk to my boss. I knew my salary would go down, but I wanted to negotiate my own salary instead of leaving it up to my boss.
I made a budget and reconsidered my investments. Decreased monthly salary by 34% from $20,500 to $13,500. I felt that this cut would explain my new lack of management responsibility and boost the salary of the new Chief Operating Officer.
I live in Montreal, where the cost of living is relatively cheap compared to Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia. My his 1,500-square-foot loft costs $1,650 a month in utilities and internet compared to a 550-square-foot Toronto apartment that costs $2,600 a month. Even with the proposed $7,000 monthly reduction, I was able to cover my living expenses without any problems.
my savings will take the biggest hit
The cuts I suggested meant cutting my monthly savings by almost half. We created a list of expenses to trim and edit our subscriptions to minimize impact.
I also spoke with a financial advisor and converted some mutual funds and guaranteed return investments to equities.
I also began contributing several freelance articles to publications each month to supplement my income from when I was with my previous employer.
Preparation was key to having a positive conversation with my boss about my demotion
After six months of careful deliberation, I approached my boss to discuss the demotion.
I prepared a synopsis of the interview in early February. At the conference, I celebrated my victory while taking personal responsibility for my lack of growth. We also articulated where we felt we could bring value elsewhere and how a relegation would benefit everyone.
I also suggested a pay cut with the clear idea of ​​wanting to earn a way back for another raise.
The result was a positive, laughter-filled conversation that everyone enjoyed.
I am very happy now that I was demoted
Since being demoted in February, I have had the opportunity to focus on what I love and have rekindled the joy of coming to work.
My mental health improved immediately. Less anxiety, better sleep, twice as productive as he was, and within his first two weeks, we created an offer that brought significant additional revenue without putting a lot of strain on the team. is in a much better place personally and professionally.
If I had to make the same decision again, I definitely would.