I'm feeling stuck in my job and have been "quiet quitting." It doesn't feel good--is there a better way?
Maynard Webb
Founder, Webb Investment Network; Author ‘Dear Founder’; Board member Visa and Salesforce.
I’m feeling uninspired and unfilled at work despite making changes to improve my situation. I want to leave but I’m integral to a big event we have coming up and I feel responsible to see the company through an upcoming management change. This will take about 6 months to wrap. In the meantime, as a response to feeling stuck, I’m “quiet quitting.” Is that OK, is there another approach I should take?
-Executive stuck in the grind
Dear Executive,
It is never a great strategy to invest minimal effort.
I appreciate that you don’t want to leave your company in a lurch and are therefore staying longer than you would like, but you need to change the spirit in which you are approaching this.
First, you clearly feel a sense of obligation to stay, but what about a responsibility to do your best work? What’s the expectation from your employer? Why are they paying you??Every day can’t be perfect, but you are there to do a job and you are compensated to do it well.
Second, and more importantly, you want to keep learning and growing wherever you are. I believe that you can be fully engaged, even if you’re not planning be in this position long term. If you can be more committed to this work for the next six months, it’s possible that you might be able to find more passion and love for this role than you thought.
领英推荐
We are living in difficult times. People are consumed with heavy things—the economy, the war in Ukraine, Covid. It’s overwhelming and some are responding by checking out as to avoid burnout. According to a Gallup survey, only 32% of people reported feeling engaged at work in 2022. That’s an alarming statistic. We all need to make changes to reverse this trend to have people feel more connected to what they do.
While I believe there are changes that employers should be making to meet the wants and needs of their people, I don’t think it benefits anyone to check out in the meantime. Quiet quitting is at odds with career growth. If you’re using this approach to get through this time quickly and get onto something else that you’re excited and inspired about, you still want to give it your all along the way. Anything less than that will not end well for the company, or for you. Quiet quitting doesn’t lead to greatness. What most people aim to achieve—gaining more responsibility, making more money, accessing greater learning—will not happen by sitting on the sidelines.
My advice is to stay the six months and do the job with all your heart. If you can’t do that, leave now and chase what matters to you. Whatever you do, be fully engaged otherwise it will be a lost six months of learning and growth.
There is a common expression to “make the best of it.” Quiet quitting is not making the best of it. It’s short selling yourself and it’s unfair to your employer. It’s fine to have a plan to leave, but make the most of everything while you are there. And if you can’t, move on. You do your best work when you’re committed. And doing your best work is ultimately what is really what’s most rewarding.
Every week I respond to a new question. Ask me your question in the comments section.
Shotokan Karate-Do International Kenkojuku Association Chikara Karate Dojo
3 个月As I read the responses here (including mine!) I realized several things: a) quiet quitting is a new name for an old situation (notice I did not write "problem." b) Each individual decides if "being used" under the guise of mgt potential is worth it. c) a key distinction, which I did not make early on, is should one stay if it is revealed mgt lies? Put another way, are you wearing golden handcuffs, or are they paper? d) Almost every business professor I had (under and post grad) encouraged moving towards opportunities, as opposed to trusting a company to recognize and reward hardwork and results. e) If you are getting abused or short-changed, do not whine... LEAVE! The whining often comes from those who recognize they deserve better, but are too lazy or scared to risk the unknown! There is life after the farm!!! Try to pay down debt, save a little, AND JUMP!!!
Senior Fraud Detection Specialist
2 年Responsibility to do our best and learn no matter how long our stay is, I love that.
Brand developer, Marketing principal, and Creative standout – 20 years of professional marketing & advertising experience
2 年If the company is only giving you bare minimum–pay, acceptance of your humanity (through denying PTO, making an unsafe/unhealthy workplace, etc.), other toxic overbearing control behaviors–why should you give any more than the bare minimum? Of course they want you to kill yourselves for them...it just makes them (management, bosses, etc.) look good and make them more money. Are you, as a person, not worth anything? Yes, it does feel bad to not give something your all...but nowhere near as bad as being exploited/manipulated into working well more/better than you should for awful treatment and meager pay. All you're doing is making your boss/the company money, and burning through what little precious life you have left...not that most companies/bosses/etc. value that. It's all about THEIR bottom line, why shouldn't you be about yours? If your company truly does care about you, then you haven't gotten to this point. "The grind" and burnout are only symptoms of a toxic/unfulfilling workplace...after all, aren't you working to live, not the other way around?
Chef@NISIESTRATORIO100%% ORIGINALFOOD PLATING%%%$$$### THE BEST
2 年https://www.amway.com/myshop/RojoMartinez
CPB, Owner
2 年Yes, no matter whether you want to stay in your current job or thinking to quit, you have to make all your effort to do your best in your current job. It is your responsibility and attitude to your job and your employer!