For CEOs and other leaders, the decision to step down can be fraught.

The question of when to quit has become especially salient with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings both announcing they’re stepping down from leadership positions this week. Many executives have been criticized for hanging on — speculation about when JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon might retire has been swirling on Wall Street for years. Others are criticized for their succession planning — the failure of which has left Carlyle Group without a CEO since August after the founders ousted their chosen replacement.

“There are two reasons why a leader should consider stepping down: When the leader is not capable of serving their stakeholders well, or when the role is not, or is no longer, aligned with the leader’s own goals and values,” said James Lemoine, professor at University at Buffalo School of Management.

Often, it’s difficult for leaders to admit that either reason could be true. Many double down, saying “I can turn things around” or “I can juggle these priorities and balance everything,” Lemoine said. “This is why so many leaders seem to last past their expiration date.”

Instead of being an admission of failure, the decision to give up a leadership role can be seen as a powerful choice, said Terri Kurtzberg, professor at Rutgers Business School. “To decide to shift is difficult, and the decision to leave a position, especially in the middle of a term, can be thought of as an impressive act in this way.”

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