Do you remember 2022? Do you remember the labor market cultural phenomenon called “quiet quitting.” Well, now in 2023, we are creeping towards a recession that has been predicted for what seems like years now, and are now dealing with corporate layoffs from companies that are typically solid performers. Now the conversation has switched from “quiet quitting” to sympathy for people being laid off and disgust for corporate greed. But, all of the spotlight, praise, and most importantly support has been switched off the people who quietly quit. The following is a guide to support professionals who quietly quit to move forward powerfully.
Don’t Burn the Bridges
In normal times people quit, but tend not to burn all the bridges. Quiet quitting though is a phenomenon in which people were celebrated for quitting and with disregard for burning bridges. However, I highly advise against that! Life is long and we are generally all connected, so you will likely run across the people you burned in the future by quietly quitting on them. Don’t burn bridges! And if you did, now is a great time to think more broadly about the situation and start repairing any bridges you burned.
Take the Break That You Need
If YOU found yourself quiet quitting you were probably fed up with your job, fed up with the people and the process. Additionally, for many life re-adjustments created by the COVID-19 pandemic led many people to redefine their life and think of things in a way they never thought of in the past. Either way, you likely quit because you needed a break from it all.
There are responsible ways to take a break. Most people will probably not take a break and just rush into the next thing they are unhappy with. While others will just sit home and stew over the past. But, if you are serious about re-grouping and taking a break, my suggestions are: take a needed vacation; get a life coach and/or therapist; do extreme self-care and self-love; and of course, forgive. Do whatever it takes to get yourself back to 100%.
You Know What You Didn’t Want, But Do You Know What You Want?
Quitting isn’t an easy decision, but one of the easy things about quitting is that you only need to define what you don’t like and no longer want. Finding the next thing is a little more difficult because not only must define what you don’t want, but more importantly, what you want. The period of quiet quitting was defined by what’s not working, but there was very little realistic conversations about what people wanted and how to make it work.
The Next Move Should Be Emotionally Workable, but Needs to Be Financially Viable
The worst part about quiet quitting becoming a trend was that group think became a thing. Group think is when a large group of people think the same way leading to reality and “common sense” becoming whatever the group is repeating. During this period, many people told me what they were leaving their jobs to go do and some of it made me cringe for how off the wall and unrealistic it was. Note, I’m an Executive Life Coach, I help people make unrealistic things become a reality, but some of the things I heard were crazy and nonsense. Please remember, that the things you move on to will eventually have to pay the bills. Use common sense and be careful not to fall into wishful thinking and group think.
Your Next Move May Not Be Celebrated
During the age of quiet quitting the way to fit in was to be mad and angered by your situation and join the ranks and quit. And for once in our culture, you were celebrated for it. But now what? Your next move may not be as celebrated. Additionally, your next move may not have the cultural support that quitting did. There’s a chance your next move is going to be way different than the feeling you had while quitting and moving on. So, do not expect the thrill, the support, and the attention that you may have appreciated while quitting. The next phase of your life will probably be you figuring out what you want to do next and just doing it without any hoopla.
Take Responsibility, and Go Back to the Place You Quit If That’s the Right Option
My last suggestion is that in some cases, going back (if they will have you) is the right next move. Maybe, the act of quitting or just taking a break was what was needed. Don’t completely ignore going back to the place you quit if it is a viable option.
Quiet Quitting certainly happened, but life moves forward. Try my suggested tips above to move forward powerfully!
Jason Dukes is an Executive Life Coach to Visionary Leaders and helps them bring their visions to life through innovative and customized one-on-one programs.
