Are you considering Quiet Quitting your small business in 2023?

Quiet Quitting is when someone 'checks out' of their job, and, instead of giving it their all, begins to do the basics and bare minimum. Synonymous with coasting, it can be driven by someone's desire to move on from the role or company, or as a reaction to being badly treated or taken for granted by a manager.

Quiet Quitters often even use this time to figure out their next move, whether that is into freelance life, or another new job, perhaps using the work printer and post room for their plans, or researching job sites on their work laptop. It sounds pretty negative, and, overall, it is.

Some people are in favour of quiet quitting - why not take things more slowly? What's so wrong with not giving a job your all? Isn't this just also another name for better work/life balance?

Quiet Quitting has been spoken about in the context of full-time employment, but what about quiet quitting when you're freelance or self-employed? Can you be 'quiet quitting' your own business? Yes, of course - and it's very damaging.

Signs you are quiet quitting your self-employed or freelance life can include avoiding main tasks that will move your business forward, taking longer and longer at lunch, clocking off earlier, and avoiding replying to client emails. You might also be checking out of social media, marketing or even networking. Sound familiar?

The good news is, there is plenty you can do about it.

The best part is, if you are quiet quitting, rather than giving up on a company you don't feel supports you anymore, as you would in a staff job, you can make changes, updates and adjustments as soon as you like. No waiting for HR to approve that training request, or your manager to give you a new challenge outside of your comfort zone.

You are the person with the power to say what you want to shift, why and how.

How to know if you are quiet quitting your small business

There are a few key signs that you can look out for. Giving more time to other things than work, letting your content schedule slip, or perhaps coming back to clients a little later than before. Not seeking out new work, and reducing the amount of networking - online and in person - that you do. If you use a co-working space, you might turn up later, or find yourself going to the shops for the afternoon when you should be working on that new project idea.

If this sounds familiar, it's likely you are quiet qutting your small business.

So, what next?

Deciding if it's a big shift you need to make, or smaller ones

When you are quiet quitting, there will be some changes you need to make, but they could be a mixture of the small, the massive or the in-between.

If you feel like you've fallen out of love with your brand, for example, a re-brand is a possible but huge commitment. It might be that your working space needs a spruce up, or you need to join a co-working space or do some networking to remind you of your purpose and space in the freelance world. Make a list of all the things that are bugging you about your business right now, big and small - a bit like if you were analysing whether to quit your job. Pros and cons, things you love, too.

Don't expect overnight change

While the recognition of quiet quitting is one you will come to as a lightbulb moment, the remedy isn't always instant. A bit like when you decide to re-invest in a relationship. There will be some things you can do straight away - that networking event, or re-vamping your desk space. But some things will be longer term, such as looking at branding, clients or niche.

Commit to not quitting (or... well, you could quit!)

If you have realised you are quiet quitting your business, you have two main choices. To choose to stay, and change things for the better, or to leave! I hope that you decide to stay, and one of the things that can be a pivotal tool in your decision making is group coaching.

If you are quiet quitting but you don't want to, and want to make changes that will grow, build and bolster your business, plans and confidence, you can email hello@freelancefeels.com to set up a call with founder Jenny Holliday about individual coaching for 2023.