Quiet Quitting: The Ghosting of Your Career

I’ve found that how we treat service professionals is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves within this world and what kind of leaders we actually are. I’ve made it a habit to see everyone in business, as my grandma Hazel would say, from the “roota to the toota.” I regularly have conversations with housekeepers when I’m staying at hotels, tell jokes to our receptionists, and spotlight the contributions of flight attendants on my Delta flights. The reason why is that our careers are just that—careers. They don’t make us better or more important humans, even though degrees and titles might lead us to believe that.

The Universal Potential for Impact

I don’t remember many of the teachers from Santa Rita Elementary School, where over 30 years ago, I made my debut into the world of education. But I distinctly remember Jesse, our beloved janitor. Jesse was this tall, handsome Latino man who would crack jokes with us little kids, make us smile when our hearts were broken from issues at home, and somehow always knew how to be present before an impending fight took place. Whenever he was around, our campus was cleaner than it should’ve been—he would sling his trash bags like he was shooting a three-pointer across the blacktop. He was cool as hell.

Jesse showed his deep love for children and safety to us—even when we didn’t fully understand his actions. His impact literally made me a better man as I grew because I sought to be just like him when I started teaching 6th grade English. I didn’t want my students to feel that I was some unapproachable award-winning writer who looked down on the village from his tower. I wanted to be like Jesse. I don’t even remember the principal’s name. Actually, it was Mr. Grossy (I literally didn’t make that up)—and I couldn’t stand him. But, that’s for another edition of this newsletter on how not to be when working with children. But I digress.

Jesse’s actions transformed the workplace atmosphere and culture, proving that everyone, regardless of their job title, has the potential to make a significant social impact. The great Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'" This quote perfectly encapsulates the idea that excellence and impact can come from any role.

Quiet Quitting: A Call for Commitment

When we are gifted with an opportunity to serve in any capacity, how we show up is a reflection of our spirits, our approach to humanity, and ultimately how we feel about ourselves. This brings me to a troubling trend I’ve noticed, especially among our younger generations—quiet quitting. It’s the ghosting attitude of business. It’s childish, immature, and has the ability to completely ruin your reputation.

Quiet quitting, where employees do the bare minimum until they eventually leave, is prevalent among Gen Z. It’s tempting to jump from job to job searching for the perfect fit, but sometimes the greatest impact comes from staying put and creating change from within. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t resign when the time is right, but there’s a significant difference between leaving with grace and burning bridges. Fulfilling your commitments and exiting roles with integrity is crucial. Leaving suddenly or without proper notice can tarnish your reputation and hinder future opportunities.

What to do Instead of Quietly Quitting

Your current position, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is a platform for making a difference. By committing to excellence and positively influencing those around you, you build a legacy of impact. We need to treat each role as a gift and when it’s time to leave, we need to leave with tact and class. We can even make impacts in our exits. Here are some practical steps to help you make an impact in your roles and what to do instead of quiet quitting:

1. Identify Small, Meaningful Actions: Improve your workplace environment through small acts of kindness and excellence. You have the ability to create the environment you want to work in by not complaining and being an example of someone you'd like to work with.
2. Build Positive Relationships: Foster a supportive community by connecting with colleagues on a personal level. Do this mindfully, but connections make the work experience better (especially when your boss is getting on your nerves).
3. Pursue Excellence: Strive to excel in your work, regardless of the task. Remember what Dr. King said and apply it to your life. You only get one life in this body, so make the very best of every moment at work.
4. Stay Informed and Advocate: Stay updated and advocate for positive changes within your organization. Challenge the system by asking for the changes that would help you feel better. Sometimes the fear of speaking up is what allows toxic environments to continue to thrive.
5. Reflect Regularly: Reflect on your contributions and seek feedback for continuous improvement. Make your experience at work a game where you are constantly working on yourself to figure out how to get the very best of your experience.
6. Exit with Grace: When it’s time to leave, do so with tact and class, making an impact even in your exit. Honor your commitments by staying on board for at least the time you commit to. Give your company as early notice as possible that you're leaving, believe me, it will make your exit much better for you. Offer to give insight into how to improve the role for the next person to come to break cycles that might cause others who follow you to want to leave too. #Service

We all have the power to create our own world within the world we live in. Whether you're a receptionist, janitor, teacher, lawyer, supervisor or a CEO, your role has immense potential for social impact every single day. Embrace it with passion and purpose. Remember, the way we treat others and honor our commitments reflects our true leadership and humanity.

Stay tuned for more updates on my upcoming YouTube series on philosophy for a new generation, launching later this month!

Be Dedicated. Be Impactful. Be Legendary.

Be Healed.

Dr. Golden