Unspoken resignations and quiet quitting

A GOOD friend was a dedicated and innovative senior marketing manager at a well-respected advertising agency in Makati for seven years. He was highly regarded for his creative ideas, hard work and unwavering dedication to his career. However, this good friend began to experience a gradual shift in his attitude and behavior. Initially, this change was subtle as he spoke to me about his struggles to find his real purpose. He caught himself not actively participating in team brainstorming sessions and instead remained quiet during meetings where he previously dominated with his innovative concepts. Initially unaware of the shift, his colleagues even assumed it was due to a temporary creative block.

In the bustling workplaces of Metro Manila, this subtle yet widespread behavior of my good friend is known as quiet quitting. Unlike employees who dramatically leave their office or resign due to frustration, it is a subtle way of becoming disengaged that can significantly impact individuals and organizations. It is characterized by employees who physically show up for work but emotionally and mentally check out. They go through the motions of their jobs, yet their enthusiasm, dedication and productivity wane over time. This behavior can be challenging to detect, as it sometimes lacks the apparent signs of dissatisfaction or conflict.