Processing the Noise Around Quiet Quitting

You can’t open a news website or your TikTok FYP without someone talking about the “Quiet Quitting” revolution. 

My understanding is that “Quiet Quitting” is all about doing the bare minimum of a job. As one TikTokker, Zaiad Khan, described it, “…you’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond.”

I also saw this phrase recently, “Act your wage.”

Funny.

I have always been the opposite.

I have always seen going above and beyond as par for the course: Anticipating. Serving. Over-delivering. And yes, these old chestnuts – surprising and delighting.

I always saw my mission, no matter the job, no matter the level, to make myself indispensable.

Does that make me some kind of schmuck? Or worse, a masochist? Am I a doltish victim of Capitalism’s exploitive under-belly? Does succumbing to “The Man” make me less of a human?

I never saw it that way.

In fact, I was attracted to the journey of the hard. Like in JFK’s epic “We Choose to Go to the Moon,” speech:

“But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal?…why climb the highest mountain? Why 35 years ago fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?…not because that will be easy, but because it will be hard.”

Back in the 1990’s I went to the great creative agency, TBWA\Chiat\Day in Los Angeles, because I wanted to experience what I saw on their famous t-shirt, “Good Enough Is Not Enough.”

I saw this philosophy as a rallying cry to chase excellence. To always make sure you brought out your best and the best of the agency.

Good Enough Is Not Enough was personal.

It was a way for me to test and stretch myself. A way to ultimately grow.

It was also about the work. When working on a project when I was a creative or even now that I am a Chair at the agency, I still hear Good Enough Is Not Enough (GENE) whispering in my ear. And if I see something weak or not quite right, I find myself thinking, “Is this the best we can do?” Because #GENE.

What I am seeing with regard to Quiet Quitting is a lack of purpose, engagement, and enthusiasm. In a recent Gallup survey, 60% of employees, across industries, considered themselves “emotionally detached.” I would surmise QQ’ers don’t know why they should be engaged, therefore they are unenthusiastic and doing the bare minimum.

As a leader, it’s your job to provide the “why.” And as a team member it’s your job to understand the “why.” Then you can decide to engage or QQ.  

I’m not here to judge Quiet Quitters. I have empathy for them. I can feel their ennui.

And if you are a Quiet Quitter, or simply thinking about Quiet Quitting, allow me to ask a classic Coaching, powerful question:

What do you really want?