Is the ‘Great Resignation’ real?

For almost two years, employees throughout the country have been enduring the intense pressure created by COVID-19 (and its current re-escalation via the omicron variant). They’ve had to adapt to working remotely, navigate through vaccinations and lockdowns, deal with so many people dying and more.

What agency owners should be doing now.

An increasing number are fighting back against these pressures. They want something better. Or just something different. They want it now. And many of them nationwide are leaving their jobs as a result.

No wonder it’s called “The Great Resignation’’ and the following are points for you to consider as you navigate 2022:

1. Understand that “The Great Resignation’ is real, fundamental and isn’t going away any time soon.
2. Align your firm’s purpose more closely with your employees’ personal goals and values.
3. Be more flexible. Become more thoughtful, creative and agile in providing your people with what they want most.
4. Focus on employee well-being.
5. Also focus on your own well-being.
6. Talk less and listen more. Learn to listen more effectively.
7. Finally, dial up the empathy throughout your agency. From management to staff. From each person to others. From you personally to everyone.

The ‘’Great Resignation’’ will affect all agencies.

The Financial Times recently predicted that 28% of employees… almost one out of every three… will leave their jobs for greater flexibility and to add more meaning to their professional lives. Not for more money. Not for a better title. For enrichment and growth as a person.

Despite the continued uncertainties of COVID, an estimated 900,000 employees (2.8% of the entire workforce) quit in the month of October 2021 alone.

Even more stunningly, The Guardian reported in 2021 that 63% of marketing professionals were contemplating a job change within a year.

Higher turnover will detract from your firm’s knowledge base. It erodes the continuity, trust, confidence, and efficiency which are all critical to creating and sustaining lasting relationships with clients. Not to mention the impact on your firm’s culture.

Focus on your purpose.

Your purpose is your critically important WHY. The essence of why your agency exists. Why you do what you do. Why the best people choose to work (and stay) with you.

“Purpose” is not remotely some kind of touchy-feely idea or “here today/gone tomorrow” business fad. It’s real and it’s important. You can define purpose as “… a belief that your life matters and that you make a difference… a reason for being… a reason to wake up in the morning”. What’s more important than that?

People are most engaged in work when the mission and values of the organisation matter to them and b) when they feel they can contribute to the bigger picture.

So, again, what’s your WHY? Is it as clear and compelling as it can be?

How to make your purpose stronger.

Here’s what McKinsey & Co. and Forbes recommend as actions for agency owners to be taking to retain the best people and keep moving forward in this exceptionally challenging environment:

1. Clarify your firm’s purpose.
2. Articulate it effectively, again and again.
3. Help your people live their purpose with their work.
4. Use your purpose as a priority for making decisions.
5. Stay nimble.