Is it time to resign or re-engage?
It’s the talk of the town, and not just in HR circles, it’s appeared in news headlines, podcasts and talk shows around the world, but is the Big Quit really heading to our shores?
A recent article in The Conversation asserts Australia’s Great Resignation is a Myth and yet, anecdotally I’m hearing from multiple people in the HR and Coaching space that it’s already here.
You don’t need research and surveys to tell you that the past two years have been tough. Many people have lost their jobs while those of us lucky enough to be able to work from home, haven’t stopped. Technology has enabled many of us to keep going, and we are grateful to have work, but the boundaries have more than blurred. We are no longer just managing our email inbox, we also have multiple communication, collaboration and project management tools constantly demanding our attention. We are drowning in a sea of 24/7 notifications, not to mention back to back zoom meetings and homeschooling! While the “wellbeing days off” were nice, it didn’t stem the flow of tasks being added to your project board.
And now, the moment our schools reopen, and you start to see a glimmer of space returning to your day, your workplace is asking you to give up the extra hour or two gained and resume your commute to the office. Yes, there’s new and welcome flexibility, with most workplaces inviting employees to continue working one or more days from home. This brings its own set of challenges when you turn up to work to spend time with your team only to find many of them are at home, sending you back to the zoom room wondering why you came.
There’s no doubt that resigning is on people’s minds but does it offer a solution? Results from a poll I conducted on LinkedIn confirm my suspicions. It’s not a lack of flexibility, or even low wages, but poor leadership that is making people consider leaving their jobs. It's hardly surprising given recent research identified Australian office workers as the most burnt out in the world.
Where to from here?
Whether you are an employee contemplating leaving your job, or a leader seeking to re-engage and retain your employees, it’s time to take stock. Here are three practical post-lockdown strategies from Shift Practitioners.
Three strategies to re-engage and re-energise - your employees, your team and yourself!
ONE - PRIORITISE RELATIONSHIPS
Isolation has been one of the main challenges we’ve faced during lockdown but it’s not new. The epidemic of loneliness was sweeping our shores long before Covid, with devastating impacts on our mental and physical health.
Research has shown an active social life may help you live longer but did you know positive relationships are also the cornerstone of successful teams? MIT professor Daniel Kim noted in his Core Theory of Success, “As the quality of relationships rises, the quality of thinking improves, leading to an increase in the quality of actions and results.”
As a Thinking Environment® Specialist, Shift Practitioner Candice Smith is skilled at creating environments that improve the quality of relationships, actions and results. “The Thinking Environment body of work is about encouraging a way of being that says to people ‘You matter; your thinking makes a difference; and if you knew that, what would you do now?’” explains Candice. “It is based on people agreeing to treat each other in certain ways that are proven to deepen connection and improve thinking.”
It’s rare for anyone to want to quit a strongly connected, successful team which is why now is the perfect time to develop team relationships. Through her business The Thinking Field, Candice offers a range of Thinking Environment courses, leadership coaching and training.
TWO - COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Do you know how everyone on your team is feeling, really? Are they keen to come back to the office or struggling to get out of bed? What do they love about their job? What do they hate? Are they planning their exit strategy?
According to research from The Adecco Group, more than half of all managers find it hard to identify when staff may be struggling with mental health issues or overwork and burnout.
Shift Practitioner, coach and creator Leonie Cutts, developed the Communication Compatibility System (CCS) Cards to make it easy and safe for people to express their thoughts and feelings. She supports individuals and teams to have the “real conversations” needed to maintain a healthy, productive and high-performing workplace culture.
Through her business, the CCS Corporation, you can engage Leonie to deliver bespoke team workshops and leadership coaching. And if interested in developing this skill yourself, you can train be a Certified CCS Practitioner.
THREE - TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
The decision to quit isn’t always a bad thing. If your work environment is toxic, isn’t aligned with your values and/or doesn't offer you space to grow, you definitely shouldn’t stick around. And while as leaders we want to engage and retain our talent, it’s also healthy to have a certain amount of attrition - to make space for new people and ideas.
Most of us have had time for a good deal of contemplation over the past few months but may still be struggling to sort the signals from the noise. You know you feel exhausted and a little overwhelmed, but is resigning the answer? What do you hope a new job might look like? What are you really seeking?
Shift Practitioner and Confidence Coach Tania Serfontein works with overwhelmed and anxious women, often in periods of transition, to help them move forward with confidence and clarity. Join her on November 24th for a free masterclass and Breakthrough to being Ultimately You!
What are your top tips for leaders seeking to re-engage and retain their employees? Share your insights in the comments so together, we can shift leadership.