So much discussion about the Great Resignation and its implied message of dissatisfaction with the past has led us to the now. I think we need to use terms that suggest moving forward, doing better, feeling more valued. In short, a great transition or, better still, a Great Awakening.
We had long read about 70% of us not feeling engaged in our work but felt we were stuck with it. I suggest those of us in that category felt life was about having to do what others expected of us rather than what we would love to be doing. Covid-19 has apparently spurred many of us to finally do something about it.
Calling it the great resignation focuses our attention on no longer being resigned to doing what we don’t like doing. Better if we focus on moving forward, doing better for ourselves, or, to use my theme, to enjoy being our true selves in all facets of our lives and especially in our working life.
Any major transition we have ever made in our lives has always been aimed at improving our lot in every way we can. A time of doing a due-diligence on what we prefer, our highest priorities, what makes us feel better, and what energizes our drive to improve ourselves. No more so is this the case than in the current global transition which is far deeper than getting away from an unsatisfying past.
The great awakening is, I believe, not just about individuals changing jobs. It’s about a societal recognition that life is far more valuable than ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. We are now reasserting the fact we were each born with a unique mix of talents, gifts, passions, skills, and abilities for a purpose. These resources are our natural key to true personal success and society’s task of achieving real progress in the world of business and social development.