‘Lying flat’
It’s a term that came out of China about 18 months ago. In China they call it ‘tang ping’.
It means ‘taking a break from relentless work.’
Like ‘quiet quitting’, which is doing the bare minimum, within contracted hours, of what you’re paid to do.
It’s an inevitable human response to being continuously overworked, stressed, and pressured to be high achievers.
And many people are now choosing to withdraw, either completely or partially, from this relentless cycle of work, just so they can also experience life outside of work.
In reading up on the term, I came across another term: 996. At first I thought it must be an emergency rescue number that you can call when your life consists of work, more work, and nothing but work.
But no, it’s a term for a culture of working 9am-9pm, 6 days a week.
Wow. No wonder people are lying flat.
Companies have so much pressure on them to remain viable and competitive in a VUCA world, and need to get the best value they can from their workforce. It’s understandable.
But flogging your horse till it’s dead isn’t going to help you compete long term in the race you’re in.
Given we’re psychologically wired for certainty and safety, and operate at our best in this sort of environment, leaders need to be investing in ways to create safe, positive and compassionate places for their people to thrive.
When people work sensible hours, have freedom to learn and grow, to challenge and debate, to share and collaborate, and feel they belong, those people will generate exponentially more value for the organisation than in any culture resembling an official, or unofficial, 996 regime.
Because they will also be encouraged to take time for play, rest, connection and joy outside of work.
Balance, in other words.
I’m all for a 24x7x365 culture that gives people the freedom to live the life they choose.
In the meantime, perhaps it calls for a little ‘lying flat’ contemplative time, while you decide what a life of choice looks like for you.
