Reclaim Your Power: The High Cost of Quiet Quitting
Quiet quitting has become a popular trend. The idea is simple: do the bare minimum to get by at work. But what many don't realize is the significant cost of this strategy has both personally and professionally. There’s also a negative impact on your organization’s brand reputation. Disengaged employees impact productivity which ultimately impacts your customers and your company’s bottom line.
The Illusion of Power
It's easy to blame external factors for your dissatisfaction. A tyrannical boss, a profit-obsessed company culture, or a disengaged CEO can certainly make work less than ideal. However, by quietly quitting, you're essentially giving away your power. You're allowing external circumstances to dictate your work ethic and your overall satisfaction.
Ask yourself: do you really know what’s going on at the top levels of the company? Perhaps that “disengaged CEO” is working hard to resolve multiple issues or kick off new strategies that will ultimately serve the organization - and you - in a positive way. Perhaps the “profit-obsessed” company is reacting to a drop in numbers and they are worried about their financial stability - stability that can impact you!
The newest trend of some companies offering “unhappy leave” is being implemented at the executive level and companies are feeling the pressure to come up with ways to tackle employee dissatisfaction. While this is all well and good, it assumes all the power - and the solutions - exist exclusively with company leadership. I’d like to offer a different perspective.
Taking Back Control
Now, it’s possible that you have found yourself in a truly toxic work environment. The tyrannical boss is a real thing. There are also low-quality employers who aren’t investing in their employees. We’ve all seen the bad Glassdoor reviews. One or two reviews from a disgruntled employee isn’t a red flag but consistently unhappy employees and low CEO scores are. If you find yourself at a company like this, the best course of action may be to leave. Update your resume, network, and start your job search. You have the power to choose a better situation for yourself!
But what if your situation isn't that bad? Perhaps you're simply bored or uninspired. Perhaps the person leading you has good intent but is under a lot of pressure and hasn’t been available as much as they would like. Perhaps you were blessed (or cursed) with a high level of competency where it’s assumed you can handle more pressure and more work. Perhaps not speaking up about what you need is leaving the impression that you are fine.
Don’t just sit there complacently buying into a quiet quitting revolution. Instead, consider these options:
Shift to a New Mindset and Take Action:
Speak Up! Despite how uncomfortable that sounds, remember that respectful, vulnerable communication can have a massive impact on resolving issues. The trick is to not be judgmental or accusatory. Calmly share how you’re feeling and remain open minded to another point of view.
Start with Empathy: Consider that everyone has battles they are fighting. Try to have compassion and understanding for others recognizing that you never truly know what a person is going through. Keep this in mind when you take steps to speak up.
Be Kind to Yourself: Self-honor, self-respect, self-dignity - you deserve all these things. Don’t wait for others to give them to you. If the efforts you make to speak up and be empathetic are not received well and communication doesn’t resolve the problem, be proud of yourself for trying and feel confident you can make the right decision for you.
Take Back Your Power: Society conditions us to think we are small but we are way more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. You have a choice to take the actions that give you the best outcomes. Don’t listen to what the external world tells you - get clear about what you need and want and don’t wait for it to drop in your lap. Take steps to give yourself what you need.
Become a Brand Ambassador:
Embrace the Positive: Despite any shortcomings, focus on the positive aspects of your company. Be proud of your company - even if they’ve made some big, ugly mistakes! All companies experience bad situations but that doesn’t make them a bad company. Consider how issues are addressed. If leaders are taking steps to improve the business and culture, consider giving them some grace. Inspire others around you to do the same.
Go the Extra Mile: Volunteer for projects, offer to help colleagues, and exceed expectations. Remember the battles others are fighting? Pay attention to those around you. Do you have the bandwidth to assist those with heavy workloads? Even if you can’t pick up the slack, just acknowledging them can go a long way.
Promote Your Company: Share positive experiences on social media and in conversations with others. Again, if you’re going to stay put at your current company, then get on board and support them 100%!
Reignite Your Passion:
Seek Out Challenges: Ask for more responsibility or take on new projects especially if you have an idea that you think could make things better. Ask yourself what you could do to make a positive difference and create a plan for what that might look like. Even if your idea isn’t adopted, be proud of yourself for stepping up and building your creative problem-solving muscles.
Connect with Colleagues: Build strong relationships with your coworkers. Offer words of encouragement. Pay attention to what they are saying and ask thoughtful questions. Sometimes a listening ear is all someone needs to feel supported. Don’t wait for these connections to happen; be a leader and take the first step!
Learn New Skills: Invest in your professional development. It is never a waste of time to up-level your skills. There are a myriad of free and inexpensive courses online or ask your manager about ways you can get help to cover the costs. This is a great way to show them that you are serious about your development, owning your power and leading your destiny!
The Bottom Line
Quiet quitting may seem like a harmless way to cope with a less-than-ideal job, but it can have serious consequences. By taking back control of your career, shifting your mindset and taking actions to go after what you want, you can create a more fulfilling and rewarding work experience. Remember, you have the power to make a difference, no matter where you work.