A Change is as Good as a Rest - Retaining the Tired and Talented

By Kristina McDougall, Founder, Artemis Canada

There’s a proverb that says, ‘a change is as good as a rest.’ As we look around at the state of the workforce today, there is evidence of it everywhere. Two years into the pandemic, people are struggling with burn out, struggling to manage the stress of pandemic pressures and restrictions. Everywhere you look there is apathy and exhaustion.

The world has changed and so have worker expectations. The Great Resignation is in full effect and no industry is immune. People are tired, but in a world that rewards hustle and grit, taking a rest is hard. Slowing down is something that so many of us just don’t know how — or can’t — do. 

With so many workers leaving their jobs at once, it leaves major skills and talent gaps. Entrepreneurs are working tirelessly to grow their companies, while simultaneously rebuilding leadership and tactical teams. 

The only way to stop this cycle is to find ways to re-engage great employees, help them to recharge and re-energize while maintaining a commitment to the visions of the companies they work with. Rather than endless recruiting, the more important challenge is to support entrepreneurs and companies as they strive to take care of themselves and their teams. We want to help build healthy, resilient companies that can solve big, important problems without leaving a trail of burnt out employees in their wake. 

If you are an entrepreneur, talk to your employees and figure out how you can support them, because they may be thinking about changing the one thing they can control — their job. Help burnt out employees get back on their feet. Support them with coaching, a sabbatical, a new role or project, or a bigger team. And maybe most importantly, take care of yourself. Lean on coaches and find support in your community, so that you are leading from a place of sound mental health. This work may slow you down at first, but it is worth it. 

If you’re a leader or employee looking for the exit, take a moment to think about whether change really is as good as a rest. Will you just be bringing the same fatigue to a new Zoom screen or can you get re-energized with other changes to your role? And if after some reflection you decide that joining the Great Resignation is the only solution, resign tactfully and find a way to take some time off before you start that new job. Because you may need a change, but you may also need a rest.