BlueSky Thinking Summary

The idea of "quiet quitting" has gone viral on TikTok: employees do the least they can to justify having a job.

However, Leigh Thompson, a Kellogg professor, says this is not entirely accurate.

Pandemic-induced stress alone does not translate to disengagement.

So the question remains, how do managers get employees to re-engage? First, she says, managers need to understand what the particular cues are for their team's engagement and consider their own impact in this.

He also suggests other collaborative solutions, including team charters authored by employees to define roles and norms.

Through this approach, accountability is clear to everyone;

suspicion is reduced and drives toward proactive teamwork are encouraged.

Regular check-ins and visibility to impact also enhance engagement.

Eventually, it is the environment that makes the employee feel valued and involved which mitigates quiet quitting.

For today's evolving workplace, setting and maintaining the right tone and proactively managing the dynamics of their teams is important for leaders to have an engaged and motivated workforce.