Blog Layout
Three Ways to Take Control During the Great Resignation
Oct 22, 2021
The signs of a changing job market are everywhere. You have probably visited a restaurant with limited hours. Perhaps you are working extra shifts because of staff shortages, or you may be having trouble hiring someone to fill a critical role at your company. These are all indicators that the Great Resignation is real.
The Great Resignation is an idea coined by Texas A&M's Anthony Klotz to predict the coming mass voluntary exit from the workforce. The indications that the prediction is coming true are all around us, but the numbers may surprise you.
- During the months of April, May, and June 2021, 11.5 million workers quit their jobs.
- A survey of over 30,000 workers conducted by Microsoft found that 41 percent are considering leaving.
- Gallup found that 48 percent of employees are actively searching for new opportunities.
Many smart people are trying to figure out why so many people are exiting the workforce, changing jobs, or opting for non-traditional work. The reasons are complicated, and in many cases, out of your control. But you are not powerless. Here are three things you can do today to start thriving during the Great Resignation.
Don't Run
Almost everyone has spent much time reflecting on their life priorities, purpose, goals, and direction during the last two years. You should be doing this (shameless self-promotion: Check out our online course called Ignite Your Purpose if you want to discover your life purpose)! If the things you have learned in the last year have caused you to question your current job, lifestyle, or priorities, embrace those questions and explore new possibilities. Now might be a great time to find a job more aligned with your values or embrace remote work to move closer to family.
However, you have to be realistic. You may be able to run away from the stress and hardship of your current situation, but consider what you are running into. Nearly every company is short-staffed and facing uncertainty. On a recent Magic in the Room episode, Hannah said, "Now is the time to make something new happen. When everyone wants to quit, there is an opportunity for those that want to stay." Embrace this opportunity! The knowledge, relationships, and effort you have accumulated in your current job are more valuable than ever, so don't leave them without careful consideration.
It may be time to embrace the opportunity for change, but if you run, make sure you are running to something better.
Be Aggressive in Proposing Solutions
The Great Resignation is just one of many factors that are forcing businesses to be innovative and flexible. Uncertainty creates enormous opportunities for people who dare to embrace the Leadership Challenge
of challenging the process. If you have a big idea, an innovative solution, or a new way of doing things, now is a great time to bring them to the table.
When you bring your idea, be ready to do the work to make it happen. Make this fair by negotiating extra compensation or a shift in responsibilities. COVID, the Great Resignation, technology, and uncertainty have turned every company back into startups. Startups embrace constant improvement and can listen to ideas from anyone in the company. Now is the time to recognize and welcome the opportunity to have a startup mindset and lead by finding solutions to the problems everyone faces.
Learn the Truth
One of the most striking statistics from the Great Resignation
is that HR and C-suite leaders believe only 8% of their employees will quit once Covid restrictions end, which is in stark contrast to the 40 - 90% of people many surveys indicate plan to change jobs.
If you are a leader and believe your team is stable, you must start honest conversations. Depending on your context, this may include employee surveys or one on one conversations. No matter the approach, learning if people are considering leaving and why will help you plan for the coming months. You may discover that you can make practical changes to improve people's experiences, making them more likely to stay. You may find deep and complex issues that must be addressed. Either way, you will have the information you need to start building a workplace that will attract and retain the team you need to be successful.
The Great Resignation is going to have an impact that goes beyond difficulty finding people to fill positions. It may represent a shift in how people work that will be played out for years to come. The ideas in this post are not a complete solution, but they will help you start adapting to the changing job landscape.
Spend a little bit of time this week in self-reflection. Here are a couple of questions to get you started:
- Do I feel like running from my current situation? Why? Am I just trying to get away, or am I running to something better.
- What is the big idea you have not shared with anybody? What is holding you back?
- Do you know the state of your team? What do they need? What are their struggles? Are they planning to leave? What is keeping you from having honest conversations about their needs and plans?
We recently had an in-depth conversation about the Great Resignation on Magic in the Room. You can listen on our website here!
This week, on Magic in the Room, we discuss the next skill for leading teams: Effective communication. Often, leaders think they have communicated something by sending an email or mentioning it in a meeting, but the message has yet to be received. Join Hannah, Chris, and Luke as they discuss how leaders can turn data into wisdom and build shared understanding. To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe below:
Today, we continue our series on the skills needed to lead a team. We started with building trust in episode 178. In this Magic in the Room episode, Hannah, Chris, and Luke discuss a new skill: creating an environment of commitment and accountability. The core idea in this conversation is that people can only be accountable if they know what they are committed to. People can hold themselves accountable once we have a common understanding of commitments. To download the free guide that goes with this episode, subscribe below:
Connect With Us
Locations:
Oklahoma
2510 East 15th St, Suite 201
Tulsa, OK 74104
Montana
PO Box 160233
Big Sky, MT 59716