Do you want to be remembered as a quiet quitter?

The term quiet quitting has gone viral recently to describe an employee who deliberately sticks to the rules and won't go above and beyond their assigned job description. Pandemic burnout seems to have made more people disengage at work, and make them more likely to question if doing extra, unpaid work outside their assignments leads to better pay, promotions, status or happiness.

Quiet quitting doesn't mean an employee intends to leave their job. Instead they limit their tasks and energy to tasks strictly within their job description to avoid working long hours or just work the bare minimum during those hours.

This is a huge global phenomenon - more 600,000 people have shared their quiet quitting stories on TikTok, and these videos have been watched (and liked) by millions. From saying no to projects not in their job description to muting their email notifications out of office hours, the trend is seeing employees pull back their time, effort, and energy at work globally.

Quiet quitting can manifest itself both in quantity and quality of work with the individual deliberately choosing not to maximise their potential at work for any number of reasons.?

Ultimately the ‘why?’ comes down to individual choice and the influence of organisational culture and intrinsic motivation.?

As you would expect from the Mindset Development Group, we contend that quiet quitting is about a choice of motivation and mindset.

Are you a quiet quitter?

We have put together a quiet quitting diagnostic tool, as well as some positive actions that will help you back into a productive state of mine. If you are motivated to give the best of ourselves to our work in a balanced and self-supporting way, you can do so.

Diagnostic

Are you easily distracted with important work because you’re overthrown by busyness and less productive but easier tasks?

Are you, or have you been unable to switch off from work and find yourself diving into emails in the evening?

Do you find yourself overwhelmed and deflated by setbacks?

Do you react instantly and emotionally and later wish you'd responded in a more calm and more considered way?

Do you doubt your ability and often don't feel good enough?

Do you lack consistent motivation? (Does the work itself motivate you? Do you feel a sense of purpose, autonomy, and self-development?)

Do you, perhaps unknowingly, do the above and feel like you're not living to your potential (at work and at home)? You’re in danger of becoming a quiet quitter…

A balanced perspective is required

Focus on the activities that enable success for you, enhance productivity and effectiveness. Write down the 5-7 activities that drive your success (everything else is a distraction).

Set precise boundaries for a happy work-life balance. Try an EDS - Evening Digital Shutdown, by turning all non-work devices off at a specific time. This enables you to focus on your relationships, pastimes and hobbies outside the workplace.

Think of mistakes and failures as learning opportunities which will enable you to bounce back stronger.?

Prioritise your mental well-being by enhancing helpful habits in your daily routine.

Respond objectively to challenges at the same time as building empathetic and supportive relationships.

Build robust confidence to overcome imposter syndrome, take positive action, and have courageous conversations.

Develop a self-motivated growth mindset.

Empower yourself to take responsibility for your own professional and personal development.

Control, Influence or Accept

Ultimately, within our jobs, there are things we can Control, things we can Influence, and things outside those of control and influence that we need to Accept. We can choose to change our environment i.e. our job, but? we need to be careful to ensure we are not running away from a challenge that will follow us to our next role, and ultimately the only thing that will have changed is our email address!

Taking responsibility for our actions and behaviours

In the 21st century workplace (with all the associated benefits we tend to take for granted), our job is to give our work the very best of ourselves because the majority of organisations provide purposeful, well-designed jobs and a culture that challenges and supports in equal measures.

Ultimately we are measured by our behaviours and actions. So if you don’t want to be remembered as a quiet quitter, imagine what your leaving party would be like if you’ve been successful in your current job - what would you like your colleagues, customers, and bosses to say about how you conducted yourself? If you want to live up to those actions and behaviours, now’s the time to start putting them into practice.?