There has been a lot of talk about quiet quitting lately. Articles express both sides of the coin, within an array of many, sharing perspectives and advice for those that fall in the “leader” and “follower” categories, younger and older generation categories, or a category in which you have realized that life is too short to put too much effort into something that really doesn’t bring meaning or purpose to your soul. There are varying explanations of what this phrase actually means depending on whom you speak to. If you ask a millennial to explain what they think quiet quitting is, they might say, unapologetically, that it is ‘acting your wage’ where boundaries are set where the job activities performed will match the payment received and no more. In simple terms – if you are paid a minimum wage, you will perform the bare minimum required.
To further embolden those with this particular perception and attitude, comes the indemnification that the risk of termination is lower due to many employers struggling to hold onto the employees they currently have. Layoffs and firings are at a record low and companies are struggling to hold onto employees due to a record-high rate of people jumping ship and job switching. Quiet quitting in these terms is harmful to the organization as a whole. Those that do the bare minimum might frustrate those that have a stronger work ethic, lowering morale and productivity, further affecting leaders and business owners whose highest responsibility is to keep that business running efficiently and make a profit, which in large part entails keeping their staff engaged, productive, and happy. Quiet quitting reverberates ill effects on all stakeholders.
Others have come out of the pandemic, wearied, troubled by trying times of loss, uncertainty, and fear, with a new realization that the efforts that were taken to achieve the big title, pursue the almighty dollar, title, and possess material magnificence are not paramount anymore – this is their quiet quitting. This realization further deepens the stronghold of disengagement experienced during pre-pandemic times when the stirrings of employee dissatisfaction reigned and feelings of being undervalued, excluded, or unappreciated were ever-present. These individuals have concluded to no longer subscribe to the hustle culture. A Gallup survey backs up this sentiment toward working. It revealed that at least half of the U.S. workforce is currently quiet quitting. It feels like an uphill battle doesn’t it? But with all of life’s trials and tribulations, there are choices on how we recognize, acknowledge, investigate, and respond to what we face. We could be apathetic to it all, give up deflated, or find other ways to grasp meaning and purpose in all the things we do – even in the workplace.
I find that whenever I feel dissatisfied or frustrated with my circumstance and before I even consider quitting of any kind, I consider ways in which I can pivot. This entails some kind of change and with change, one can come face to face with the fear of uncertain times. But change does not have to be a herculean effort made all at once. Incremental change that moves you toward your goal is all that is needed. At work, engagement is the answer to quiet quitting – and should be considered before actually quitting altogether. Make small changes to your work activities that improve your internal and external circumstances in some way. Even if it is rearranging your office, desktop, or files to lighten the dark cloud of disorganization. Add plants, yes, plants! Or make time to get to know your coworkers – and be sure to wear different “lenses” and come from a place of a beginner’s mind (like you have never met them or been wronged by them). At home (in your personal life), replace effortless activity with effortful activity. Instead of watching television, replace it with reading a book or making dinner with a new recipe you’ve been wanting to try – have your children participate. Replace your need-to-do list with your want-to-do list and do more of what you want to do and less of what you don’t.
I recently graduated with an MBA degree. I feared I would fall into a realm of effortless activity or none at all, whereinto, the ethers I would find my mind was sure to disintegrate into a mushy useless mass…it is a grim way to look at it, but I do see inactivity, therein void of growth, the intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual dominion a real threat. Years of learning came to a halt after my last class was completed. I did not want to put in the minimum effort or do the least that I was expected to do or capable of doing. I needed to continue to grow and learn somehow. The sole reason for earning my MBA degree was to continue to learn and stretch my intellect outside of my current faculty and comfort zone. I set new goals and am taking incremental small steps to achieve them. I found fulfillment in my pencil drawing of faces. I am learning how to draw the human anatomy, reading The Great Short Works by Herman Melville, and writing my book. I have pivoted in this small way to welcome more joy and meaning into my life and so far I am glad.
I hope to never cross paths with quiet quitting and more importantly, I hope that I never fall captive to its seductive grasp. The key to never feeling trapped is to know yourself, and allow yourself the time to recognize, acknowledge, investigate, and respond, and then respond in the way that will hold true to you and what your heart desires.
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Be good and do good. And remember, express yourself in any way that brings you joy and relief and share it with the world. You don’t owe it to anyone but yourself.
With Love.
Nancy Mues 