“The telltale signs of quiet cracking are very similar to burnout. You may notice yourself lacking motivation and enthusiasm for your work, and you may be feeling useless, or even angry and irritable,” Martin Poduška, editor in chief and career writer for Kickresume, tells Fortune. “These are all common indicators of quiet cracking, and they gradually get worse over time.”
A fleet of unhappy workers may sound easy to spot, but the problem is sneaking up on workplaces without much course correction.
Quiet cracking isn’t only creating a bad culture for employees to work in, but the trend is also hitting businesses hard. It’s imperative that bosses seize the moment to develop an engagement strategy before the problem festers into a ticking time bomb. And employees can also make adjustments to better advocate for their own career happiness.
“It isn’t obvious when quiet cracking happens,” Poduška explains. “You may be starting to quietly crack right now, but you wouldn’t know as this type of burnout takes some time for others, and even you, to notice.”
“If you’ve noticed an employee becoming more and more disengaged with their work, it may be best to schedule a time where you can discuss how they feel,” Poduška says. “Setting them new tasks, providing new learning opportunities, and simply having an honest conversation could steer things back in the right direction.”
Managers aren’t the only ones with power in fighting workplace disengagement; employees also have the power to combat their own unhappiness.
“How can quiet cracking be avoided? For staff, finding out the root cause of your unhappiness might be the key to stop quiet cracking in its tracks,” Poduška explains. “If you feel like there are no opportunities for progression with your role, you may find it worthwhile to talk to your manager about a development plan. This can give you something to work toward, which may help combat boredom and spark your motivation.”
However, not every company is going to be invested in developing their workers, even if they voice the need for it. In that case, Poduška advises that staffers take a hard look at the business they work for. He recommends that employees question if their jobs feel sustainable and if they feel adequately supported by their teams. If not, a new employer—or even career—could be the answer.
“Another way to stop quiet cracking is to change things up. You could ask yourself if the role you’re currently in is right for you,” Poduška says. “A total career pivot may be the answer to quiet cracking in some cases, or for others, a switch into another department might be the best solution. Some, however, may just need something new and fresh to work on.”
