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  • March 22, 2022
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review (website)

The Great Resignation or the Great Rethink?

By: Ranjay Gulati
  • Format:Electronic
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Abstract

Unsettled by the pandemic, most people are considering our jobs with fresh perspective. Some are quitting, in what has been dubbed the Great Resignation. But, for many, it’s more of a Great Rethink. Do we really like our employers’ culture? Do we feel that we’re fairly treated and have the advancement opportunities we want? Most profoundly, does our work feels as meaningful as we’d like it to? For those answering no to any of these questions, research into “deep purpose” organizations has unearthed some strategies that individuals can use to find more meaning in their careers and lives. First, know your personal purpose and then evaluate whether you really need it on the job or can find it elsewhere. If you do, try job-crafting to align your responsibilities with that purpose and evaluate your boss and employer to make sure they can support you in that endeavor. If after all that you still cannot find meaning, it might be time to consider moving on.

Keywords

Employees; Personal Development and Career

Citation

Gulati, Ranjay. "The Great Resignation or the Great Rethink?" Harvard Business Review (website) (March 22, 2022).
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About The Author

Ranjay Gulati

Organizational Behavior
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  • Outcome and Process Frames: Strategic Renewal and Capability Reprioritization at the Federal Bureau of Investigation By: Ryan Raffaelli, Tiona Zuzul, Ranjay Gulati and Jan Rivkin
  • Sarojini Naidu: Courage of the Nightingale By: Ranjay Gulati, Malini Sen and Anjali Raina
  • Sona Comstar and Blackstone: Unlocking Value Through Business Transformation By: Ranjay Gulati and Kanika Jain
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