Are you giving the side eye to the Quiet Quitting trend, unsure whether it should make your bingo card? Good choice!
That advice could seem shocking, but maybe it shouldn’t be. Stories are everywhere about people who jumped to opt-out during the Great Resignation, only to boomerang back.
But hold on before you put your feet up or take the rest of the day off! Here’s a secret: Where you are right now is a stepping stone to somewhere else. So, get ready for The Big Opportunity, The Crisis, or when you need to Pivot by working on your soft skills.
Let me tell you about a friend who almost missed her long-awaited Big Opportunity because she was short on skills.
Sloane slumped into my office chair following her annual review. As a consistently high performer, I knew something was terribly wrong.
“Remember that promotion I’ve been pursuing? I have some major work to do over the next year if it’s going to happen,” she sighed.
“What’s the problem? You’re never short on accomplishments,” I argued.
“That’s true, but individual contributions are only part of the equation.” Sloane rolled her eyes. “At the next level, my manager told me presenting to customers is mandatory.”
My stomach dropped. Sloane is a friendly, articulate person, but speaking in public has always been at the bottom of her list. “Is there any wiggle room?” I wondered.
“Unfortunately, no. If I don’t get some coaching and master presenting, I may be bumping up against a glass ceiling—one that I constructed.”
In the September series, Soft Skills Essentials for Quiet Quitting, we’re discussing ways to use soft skills to land a new job, attain a leadership position, or expand in your current role. The case study highlights how even great situations can quickly go south.
There may be plenty of reasons to stay right where you are. You might like your work, your colleagues, and if you’re lucky, your manager, too. But there’s a difference between being in a sweet spot and coasting.
The shifting and shuffling going on now add up to one thing: Opportunity. So, when the thunderbolt strikes with an unexpected break, you want to be ready. And you get prepared by knowing how to round out your technical acumen and lived experience with soft skills.
Getting started is easy: List common soft skills like communication, problem solving, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, or collaboration, then have a quick thought exercise.
For instance, look at the list and answer these questions—I bet you’ll know the answers off the top of your head:
Leveling up isn’t punitive or personal—it’s mandatory for everyone because life constantly changes. But here’s a surprise: Competencies you add or strengthen can also be leveraged to lead or volunteer in your favorite charity and community organization.
So, don’t miss out on a Big Opportunity—at work or after hours—because it includes a soft skill you may not love, like presenting or solving thorny problems. Instead, create a plan to help strengthen your soft skills.
If you’re new to soft skills or want a refresher, boss up with my free 15-minute course, “Soft Skills Basics in a Flash.” You’ll learn what soft skills are, why people who understand soft skills stand out in a crowd, and practical, actionable ways to use soft skills every day. With the bonus 1-pager, “7 Ways to Pitch Your Soft Skills Superpower” in your back pocket, you’ll leave calm, self-assured, and ready to speak soft skills with anyone who asks.
If you don’t skill up, you may reach a point where you feel stuck, frustrated, and unable to respond quickly when that career lottery ticket comes your way. Then you’ll really want to quit, and maybe not so quietly! So start cultivating your next level skills now.