𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇!

I’ve felt really upset by this whole “quiet quitting” debate!

Putting in extra hours or taking on additional responsibilities to prove my worth is not something I have been adverse to in my career and it still isn’t!

But, if work is consuming your life and you’re expected to do 3 people’s jobs….

Realigning your priorities to avoid burnout or having some kind of mental health crisis is perfectly reasonable!

It isn’t quiet quitting……it is actually helpful for those who perhaps don’t have the privilege to quit their job, without having another one to move into!

Or maybe this is an act of defiance, in environments where passive aggression is the only acceptable form of challenge?

Passive Aggression, Loud Leaving

There’s a wide spectrum of passive-aggressive behaviours, unlike overt aggression or abuse

Passive-aggressive behaviour in the workplace can be just as harmful, both to those on the receiving end and broader company culture.

However, it is more subtle and harder to detect.

Allowing colleagues to demonstrate hostility towards one another, without having to resort to the type of open aggression that would immediately land them in hot water!

In my current role, 73% of the women I support experience passive-aggressive behaviour in one form or another, quite often micro-aggressions, but their is nothing micro about them!

They feel demoralised and it contributes towards feelings of insecurity on many levels, impacting their performance, including becoming a perfectionist, workaholic superwoman to overcompensate!

Nothing was off limits for the spiteful comments disguised as jokes & constant ‘feedback’ to ‘support’ my improvement!

I often encourage the women I work with not just to fend off the impact, but to call out this behaviour and speak truth to power……

So, whether it is ‘quiet quitting’, ‘loud leaving’ or ‘The great resignation’, perhaps these are all ways for aggression to be expressed safely?

Why Safe Spaces?

No workplace is exempt from these insidious aggressions – including playing dumb, gaslighting or stalling critical tasks deliberately.

I think every leader could benefit from a deeper capacity or tolerance for aggression, including gaining a greater awareness about their own imperfections and limitations!

It is very hard to speak truth to power or call out hypocrisy, especially in sub-ordinate relationships, because often power dynamics are associated with fear of reprisals or consequences.

I run a Safe Space for diverse women the First Friday of every month. It is a like-minded community that welcomes difference. You don’t need to code switch or become a cardboard cut out version of yourself. Show up as yourself! We got you!

This space provides containment to explore challenging topics, as well as a place you can meet some of your BIGGEST LinkedIn cheerleaders within your sphere of influence & beyond. Join here