Separating Myth from Reality: Quiet Quitting
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Today's second topic talks about Changing Demographics.
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The word 'quiet' is all the rage. In addition to 'quiet quitting,' people are talking about 'quiet firing' and 'quiet fleecing.' This 'quiet' shorthand leads many to stop critically thinking about what is really happening.
Quiet quitting is not quitting at all. It is about employees setting boundaries with their employers. A recent article from NPR includes this statement:
"In Japan, there's a concept called shokunin, which refers to an artisan who is deeply dedicated to their craft, always striving for perfection in what they make. Quiet quitting is like the opposite of that."
In my opinion, this statement is too simplistic and too broad. Most people who 'quiet' quit do not abandon the idea of doing their best. They are still proud of the work they do. They are taking a passive-aggressive stand to make the point that there are limits. People may be willing to go above and beyond, but they are not willing to, as Benjamin Disraeli said, "… jump a chasm in two leaps" just because their boss asked them to. Many companies expect people to do whatever is asked without question. The requests to do more range from the seemingly simple act of checking your email throughout the evening to working late nights and weekends to prepare a proposal or executive report. France and Portugal have passed legislation to limit this type of behavior. New York state is considering legislation. Employees who are not eligible for overtime pay the highest price.
The Economic Policy Institute has coined the phrase "quiet fleecing" to describe the effect of slow wage growth, rising productivity, and increasing living costs on workers. (This Insider article speaks to this in detail.)
People seem to be putting 'quiet' in front of any verb and saying it's new. I do not believe quiet quitting is new. In the 1990s, David Maister describes three types of people – Dynamos, Cruisers, and Losers. Dynamos are those who are willing to accept any request. Cruisers are those who take pride in their work and their jobs well. Losers are those who try to do the bare minimum to avoid getting fired. Successful firms are those who encourage and reward Dynamos, recognize that cruisers are essential to long-term success, and jettison losers as quickly as possible. In the context of quiet quitting, cruisers are the ones who have set good boundaries. Dynamos are those who accept almost anything and accept the risk of burnout and health consequences. Losers need to find a place where they can cruise.
Leaders must focus on creating a value proposition that resonates with their people.
"When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated." – Brené Brown
Seismic Shifts in American Demographics Are Occurring Now
American demographics are rapidly changing. According to the Texas Tribune, my home state of Texas may have reached the point where Hispanic residents make up more of the population than white residents. According to the Pew Research Center, less than 50% of Americans will be Christians in a few decades. In 2021, Gallup polling showed that less than half of Americans are church members.
For many demographics, the definition of average, median, and changing. These shifts force us to reconsider our assumptions and our actions. We need to abandon our historical assumptions about who we are. As leaders, we must make decisions on the reality of the day and the trends for tomorrow.
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More articles on Quiet Quitting
Axios - The Staying Power of Quiet Quitting
Statista - The Generational Divide on Quiet Quitting
Fast Company - What most discussions of 'quiet quitting' get wrong
The most difficult thing to change is a mind.
Inverse - Why Its Hard to Change Our Minds
How people want to work has changed forever
Daniel Pink - Wake up, bosses!
Understanding what makes a great speech great, makes us all better presenters and speakers.
Jeremy Connell-Waite - The Greatest Technology Speech Ever Given!
Quotes
"You can either hold yourself up to the unrealistic standards of others, or ignore them and concentrate on being happy with yourself as you are."
- Jeph Jacques
"You make the job; it doesn't make you."
- Toni Morrison
The Leader With A Thousand Faces is available on Amazon.
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