Good morning my superhero colleagues!3 years since the pandemic altered the office landscape… Do you feel normal again? I think there are still elements that are settling and have some vibration. Perhaps we will be accepting it as a ‘new normal’? On my walk to work I listen to various podcasts in my attempt to tune into subjects that spark an interest in me.
It’s not always a podcast, you may occasionally catch me listening to music… the classics like Britney and Katy Perry… But usually it’s a podcast and ‘Squiggly Careers’ is one of my favorites. Because of that I am frequently exposed to new buzzwords and trends, and I have enough experience to know that they have a shelf life. They eventually expire and will at some point become a dated reference joke… “oh snap!”. Early in 2022 I was introduced to the term “Quiet quitting”. It filtered over from America where people were getting tired of the long hours and extra efforts for little reward. No quitting was involved, it simply means to do the minimum work and effort to keep the job. Here in Norway we have rules limiting working hours and a far better (and widely accepted) work-life balance. But there is still a feeling resonating about:
Another term floating around is “the great resignation”. Coming out of the pandemic many people had reflected on their lives and wanted a change. Companies responded differently and employees have been seeking additional benefits particularly relating to flexibility. As the economy bounced back, the recovery opened up new projects and the job market reacted appropriately giving employees a bit more negotiating power and gaining that flexibility… This boom phase is continuing. You don’t have to follow the news or the trends in social media and podcasts to know about these things, you can get a sense of what’s happening just around the office or from your network in other companies. But if you did catch on… you should have a think to how this could benefit you. And I don’t simply mean to ride the wave, because there are better ways! With regards to “Quiet quitting”, some people are thinking, “Great idea, just do the minimum… less effort, less stress and the pay is the same”. And with the “Great resignation” some are thinking “I’ll get a new job and additional benefits”… They are following the trends… But think harder… and go a level deeper on it and think long term. If the trend for most people is doing less, or even the minimum, then wouldn’t it be easier for you to stand out by showing extra effort? Think about a unique asset you could bring into the work environment. It would be easier now than ever before to share it and be appreciated. Perhaps inspire others and find a little more happiness and fulfillment in your role. And if people are resigning, then new positions are opening within the company, exposing opportunities for growth and development. Loyalty does get rewarded, particularly when talent and ambition are made clear. As I said, trends have a limited period. But what you do and how you react gets remembered. You might have a colleague now who is set to leave, how will they remember you in 3 years time…?? Will they recommend you to their line manager? Did you inspire them? Or will they say that you just do the minimum? Small, smart changes… Short term thinking is self-destructive behaviour. Put your thoughts into action, rather than reaction. B Comments are closed.
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BenjaminSmall, smart changes aligned with vision and direction. Archives
April 2023
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