Why Senior IT Professionals Resign: Ehsan Ali Au on ‘Mattering Less’

In a recent LinkedIn post, Ehsan Ali Au discusses the often-overlooked reasons behind senior IT professionals handing in their notice, arguing that such decisions are rarely sudden but rather the culmination of a prolonged period of professional dissatisfaction. Ehsan Ali Au highlights a pattern where increased delivery and responsibility are met with diminishing influence and recognition.

The Slow Erosion of Influence

Ehsan Ali Au points out that the perception of a senior IT leader’s resignation can be misleading. The act of submitting a resignation letter, according to Ehsan Ali Au, is typically the final step after a “long, quiet erosion” of their professional standing within an organization. This erosion manifests in various ways, as detailed by Ehsan Ali Au:

The decision is rarely sudden. It is almost always the final step after a long, quiet erosion.

The post elaborates on this gradual decline, noting that senior professionals often find themselves delivering more value and taking on greater responsibilities without a commensurate increase in influence or recognition. Ehsan Ali Au states that this imbalance can lead to a situation where “You give more delivery but receive less influence, take on more responsibility while getting less recognition.” This growing disparity, Ehsan Ali Au suggests, is a key driver of dissatisfaction.

When ‘Fine’ Becomes Unsustainable

A significant portion of Ehsan Ali Au’s analysis focuses on the psychological and career toll that such a role can take. Ehsan Ali Au argues that the decision to leave is often prompted not by external drama but by the internal cost to the individual’s well-being and self-worth.

The Hidden Costs of Staying

According to Ehsan Ali Au, senior IT professionals “rarely walk away because of drama. They leave when staying starts costing them sleep, confidence, self-respect and time with the people who matter.” This perspective challenges the common assumption that high salaries are sufficient to retain top talent. Ehsan Ali Au observes that substantial compensation, such as “A comfortable $180K or $200K salary can hide a bad deal for years,” allowing individuals to rationalize staying in unfulfilling roles.

Ehsan Ali Au illustrates how this rationalization can lead to prolonged periods of tolerance rather than career growth. What starts as a temporary situation can extend for years, with individuals telling themselves, “things are fine, that you are secure, that everything will change once this cloud migration settles.” Ehsan Ali Au warns that this can become a pattern, where “fine becomes three years. Then five.”

Redefining Career Success

The core of Ehsan Ali Au’s message emphasizes that a fulfilling career requires more than just a steady paycheck. Ehsan Ali Au posits that “A career needs respect, market rate and growth. If two of those are missing, you are not building anything. You are tolerating a job.” This highlights a critical distinction between merely holding a job and actively building a career.

To encourage self-reflection among senior IT professionals, Ehsan Ali Au poses a pointed question: “when was the last time this role made you feel bigger instead of just busier?” This question serves as a call to action, urging individuals to assess whether their current roles contribute to their professional development and sense of significance, rather than just consuming their time and energy.

Ehsan Ali Au concludes by mentioning an upcoming initiative for senior IT professionals who are ready to move beyond simply tolerating their jobs, signaling a commitment to supporting those seeking more meaningful career paths.