I recently ran across a new trend popping up in social media. It’s called “quiet quitting”. What is it you might ask? It simple refers to the act of taking your job seriously but not too seriously.
Workplace studies are showing a surge in professionals, particularly young professionals, who feel disengaged from jobs that have not met or lived up to their expectations. Even perhaps not the job they thought they were hired for. Especially if the job is more demanding than expected. You don’t want to outright quit your job but you are quitting the idea of going above and beyond.
This is certainly not new in the workforce but what is causing this disengagement? Here are some possibilities that might be concerning you or your staff.
“Hustle Culture” Mentality – You’re still performing your duties but you are no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life. The reality is it’s not and your worth is not defined by how many hours you put into your job. But eating and putting a roof over your head is important.
Lack of Accountability – You feel you are putting in the time and effort in your job, taking care of problems, caring about your customers and achieving results. However, others on your team or in the business do very little, come to work late, are not held to the same standards, and are not addressed by managers. Managers should make sure everyone is doing the job and must address and coach those who don’t. Also. make sure you do over work your best players because you trust them more to do the job. This is called “dumping” not delegating.
Lack of Purpose – You feel your job and the tasks being done is not purposeful. In other words you don’t know the “why”. Make sure everyone knows the “why” behind their job and not just knowing the mission statement on the wall. Review the “why’ each and every day along with rewarding those who are living and demonstrating the purpose in your business and making a difference.
Lack of Recognition – You feel you are putting in the effort and perhaps going beyond but receive very litte “thank you”, “way to go”” or any type of simple acknowledgement for doing a good job. Take the time to thank others whether you are a manager or front line employee.
Feeling Left Out – You feel like their is very little communication going on in the business between managers and staff. Sometimes you feel like you are the last to know. Make sure their are numerous ways to communicate in your workplace, through meetings, memos, communication boards, text, or just by walking around.
My Ideas Are Not Welcomed – You feel that when you try and make a point, offer suggestions, give some feedback regarding customers, procedures and new ideas that no one cares or worst tells you to mind your own business. Listen and encourage ideas, and feedback from all employees. Implement a “Bright Ideas Campaign”. It will increase engagement, build ownership and you never know what it might positively lead to.
No Growth or New Opportunities – You feel your job is just a dead end with no advancement opportunities or even the possibility of new roles within the job to learn. The job just becomes boring. Offer team shadow opportunities so that people can learn the roles of other positions within your business. It is also a great way for people to appreciate what others are doing in the business.
It all comes down to finding out what is de-moting you or your people in your business. Like I said, there is nothing really new about this. This is leadership 101. I work with all types of businesses, my coaching clients and owners on helping them to create a “whistle while you work” highly enaged work environment. The bottom line is people want to treated fairly and believe you care.
Are you creating an environment where your people “want to” do it or feel like they “have to” do it? Think about that statement. What does your workplace look like and are you demotivating your staff. It could be the cause to lead to the trend of “quiet quitting”.
Need help? Contact John for more strategies and training to create an amazing and productive worksforce and business. info@johnformica.com