With all the talk about Quiet Quitting, there seems to be a misconception about what the term really means. Essentially, ‘Quiet Quitting’ is doing exactly what the job requires, no more, no less. The idea is that employees who subscribe to this philosophy are sick of going above and beyond what is required of them, and they are now only going to do what’s absolutely necessary to get by.
In my recent piece on the subject, I challenge this line of thinking, suggesting that the only one who is hurt by this mentality is the ‘quiet quitter.’ In truth, this trend is a huge opportunity for those who want to get ahead in their careers and their industry. In fact, the opposite of ‘Quiet Quitting’ is not killing yourself and working round the clock. It is working smarter. Before you roll your eyes and tell me that’s great in theory but doesn’t work in practice, let me lay out for you what it means to work smarter. First, I can tell you that it does not mean being a slave to anyone. It does not mean being the one who the work gets dumped on. So, what does it mean?
Here are three characteristics of an Occupreneur that illustrate what it means to work smarter:
Check your attitude. How we think about work determines how we work. If you think of work as a drudgery, it will be. If you think of it as an opportunity to contribute to society and better your life, then it will be. As the saying goes, “What we think about comes about.” You get to choose how you think. The second piece of this is that if you’re doing work that you love, that fulfills you and that aligns with your values and goals, your attitude about that work will follow suit. It won’t feel like work, and it definitely won’t feel like a drudgery.
Be clear about expectations. Expectations are a two-way street. One of the main principles of The Occupreneur® Approach is to treat everyone around you as a client -- and treat your employer or ‘boss’ as your best client. (We will refer to these folks as ‘internal clients’ going forward.) When you think this way, you are more likely to approach interactions more intentionally, proactively, and precisely, rather than passively, waiting to be told what to do. As client-facing professionals can tell you (if you’re not client facing yourself), one of the most important things that should come out of interactions with clients is a clarity about the client’s needs and how you plan to fulfill those needs. When interacting with your internal clients, make sure you do the same. First, listen to what they need and what they want you to do, and then repeat back what you heard them say and, if you can, a little bit about how you plan to do that work. This cuts down on the time it will take to do and complete the job because you won’t get caught up in first figuring out what to do. Or you won’t find yourself doing what is not needed or expected, causing you to have to redo the work or experience disappointment from your ‘client.’
Enroll others or delegate, where appropriate. If you believe the old adage, “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” I would ask you to challenge your thinking. While I, too, sometimes think that way, when it comes to working smart, this way of thinking can be a detriment. Another principle of The Occupreneur® Approach is knowing what you don’t know and surrounding yourself with those who have the knowledge or skill you don’t. Even if you don’t have direct reports, recognizing what you don’t know or what you might need help with is important. Through strong professional relationships and alliances (which Occupreneurs have), ask others for their expertise in getting the job done. If you have direct reports, this means delegating and empowering others to do the job.
Whichever approach you choose, the takeaway is that Occupreneurs don’t quietly quit because work is never a drag. Because, let’s face it, sometimes it is. But always remember, Occupreneurs own their careers so their jobs don’t own them!
