According to a recent Gallup survey, "quiet quitting" is still a popular career strategy, but in challenging economic times, workers are turning to "quiet thriving" instead. Psychotherapist and journalist Lesley Alderman, who coined the term in a 2022 Washington Post article, says that "quiet thriving" is about taking control of your work rather than depending on your company. "People feel best when they have a sense of agency," Alderman explains, adding that feeling in control can lead to greater job satisfaction.
While "quiet quitting" involves doing the bare minimum at work, experts believe that workers need a resilient mindset to weather economic storms. To achieve "quiet thriving," workers can make intentional and subtle changes to their work patterns to feel more fulfilled. This can include aligning their job with their interests and strengths or even forming clubs with colleagues who share similar passions.
Ashton Wikstrom, a publicist, chose to work part-time after becoming a mother, which allowed her to tailor her work to her needs and prioritize her tasks. Brooks E. Scott, a career coach who works with a diverse range of clients, believes that "quiet thriving" is an empowering strategy for minority workers who may not have the luxury of "flying under the radar" and doing the bare minimum. "Quiet thriving" is a resilient method of asking, "How can I take ownership of my job instead of feeling owned by it?"