Can corporate training reduce the impact of quiet quitting on your industry?

Procurement and supply chain professionals face numerous challenges that can lead to the online phenomenon known as “quiet quitting.” This refers to a situation where employees disengage from their roles without openly expressing their dissatisfaction or intent to leave. The prevalence of quiet quitting has a significant impact on organizations and the industry with a recent Gallup survey reporting that $7.8 trillion in productivity was lost worldwide in 2021 due to disengagement. Whilst an obvious place to start in reducing its impact is with leadership, we believe that corporate training also has the potential to effectively help.

To grasp the concept of quiet quitting, leaders must recognize its significance within the context of supply chain procurement. Quiet quitting occurs when professionals feel frustrated due to factors like the lack of skill development opportunities, stagnant career growth prospects, lack of company culture, and limited motivation. The consequences of this issue are far-reaching, affecting both organizations and the industry at large. At the Gartner Supply Chain Expo earlier this year, Susan Boylan (Senior Research Director in the Logistics, Customer Fulfilment, and Network Design) stressed the importance of developing a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to help combat quiet quitting. An EVP is the value an employee perceives they get from working somewhere, such as rewards, flexibility, the nature of the work itself, culture, and career opportunities. Boylan also highlighted that “ need to deliver not only on the ‘what’ the employees get from their organizations but also the ‘how’ they feel while working for your organization”. This got us thinking, employee value propositions can support career opportunities with effective learning that makes people feel valued and empowered to do a great job.

Whilst many organizations will begin to improve EVPs through rewards, recognition, and fan favorite ‘pizza parties’, at Skill Dynamics we’d suggest also introducing a culture of learning throughout the organization.

eLearning has emerged as a powerful tool for professional development, gaining popularity across various industries due to its advantages over in-person training methods. It provides both the learner and the organization with flexibility, accessibility, and tailoring and is often more cost-effective. By implementing team training, supply chain, and procurement leaders can aid their teams in enhancing their skills, increasing job satisfaction, and helping each learner define their career.

With investments in digital technology continuing to increase year after year, our research found that many teams are lacking the core technical skills required for your supply chain and procurement team to reach digital fluency. Without the necessary skills, employees may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to effectively utilize new technology. This lack of knowledge may lead to feelings of frustration, inadequacy, and a decrease in confidence. Moreover, employees may interpret the absence of training as a sign of insufficient support from the organization, which can make them feel undervalued and disconnected. As a result, employees are more likely to disengage, experiencing a decline in motivation and job satisfaction.

A 2023 Deloitte Global CPO Survey found that “organizations with a skills-based approach are 107% more likely to place talent effectively, are 98% more likely to retain high performers, and have a reputation as a great place to grow and develop.” And corporate training solutions, like ours, offer a comprehensive range of courses and resources tailor-made for supply chain and procurement professionals. Through self-paced learning, individuals can conveniently acquire new skills while progressing at their own pace and personalized training will help to focus on the individual learning needs and skills gaps of each learner. Moreover, eLearning incorporates interactive features such as virtual simulations and collaborative learning, promote engagement and enhancing knowledge retention. These aspects make eLearning an effective tool to combat quiet quitting and encourage employees to grow and develop their careers.

Training holds immense potential in reducing quiet quitting among supply chain and procurement professionals. By investing in eLearning, organizations can overcome the obstacles that often lead to employee disengagement and eventually, quitting. It’s crucial for the industry to recognize the positive impact of learning and embrace it as a powerful tool for professional development and retention.