"I can't shake this tired feeling"
Nov 03, 2023
"I just can't shake off this tired feeling, and it's affecting my team too"
This is from one of the leaders I work with. She had got her and her team into a really strong place. Their output was market leading and they were as tight and efficient as they possibly can be. “We’re a great team, but the pressure never stops and I’m knackered” (a British term for ‘feeling exhausted’...).
This wasn’t an issues with individual people feeling tired. It was more about a collective energy drain affecting an entire team.
Despite the talent and commitment in her team something had shifted. Morale was down, and their leader looked.. weary. Digging deeper, she revealed that the team's relentless pursuit of ‘better’ had unintentionally set an unsustainable pace and they were now running on empty.
Burnout is a silent killer of productivity. When the workplace becomes a breeding ground for fatigue, it impacts individuals and creates a ripple effect across the team.
"Ego Depletion" theory by Roy F. Baumeister explores how self-control is a finite resource that can be depleted over time. The relentless pursuit of goals without adequate rejuvenation was draining this team's self-control reserves, leading to fatigue and reduced performance.
Microsoft Japan experimented with a four-day workweek back in 2019. You might already know about what happened but it’s worth repeating because the results were staggering: this change resulted in a 40% increase in productivity. They have continued the experiment, despite a pause during the pandemic. You can find out more, here: https://tech.co/news/companies-4-day-work-week#:~:text=days%20per%20week.-,Microsoft,a%2040%25%20increase%20in%20productivity
By giving their employees an extra day to recharge, Microsoft Japan not only boosted morale but also witnessed a surge in creativity and problem-solving. This is in a culture that has had a reputation for working a significant number of hours a year compared to most other nations because of the belief that working more results in achieving more.
Giving you and your team the chance to refresh and renew is not a luxury but a necessity for sustained success.
It is possible to do more, with less stress.
This is from one of the leaders I work with. She had got her and her team into a really strong place. Their output was market leading and they were as tight and efficient as they possibly can be. “We’re a great team, but the pressure never stops and I’m knackered” (a British term for ‘feeling exhausted’...).
This wasn’t an issues with individual people feeling tired. It was more about a collective energy drain affecting an entire team.
Despite the talent and commitment in her team something had shifted. Morale was down, and their leader looked.. weary. Digging deeper, she revealed that the team's relentless pursuit of ‘better’ had unintentionally set an unsustainable pace and they were now running on empty.
Burnout is a silent killer of productivity. When the workplace becomes a breeding ground for fatigue, it impacts individuals and creates a ripple effect across the team.
"Ego Depletion" theory by Roy F. Baumeister explores how self-control is a finite resource that can be depleted over time. The relentless pursuit of goals without adequate rejuvenation was draining this team's self-control reserves, leading to fatigue and reduced performance.
Microsoft Japan experimented with a four-day workweek back in 2019. You might already know about what happened but it’s worth repeating because the results were staggering: this change resulted in a 40% increase in productivity. They have continued the experiment, despite a pause during the pandemic. You can find out more, here: https://tech.co/news/companies-4-day-work-week#:~:text=days%20per%20week.-,Microsoft,a%2040%25%20increase%20in%20productivity
By giving their employees an extra day to recharge, Microsoft Japan not only boosted morale but also witnessed a surge in creativity and problem-solving. This is in a culture that has had a reputation for working a significant number of hours a year compared to most other nations because of the belief that working more results in achieving more.
Giving you and your team the chance to refresh and renew is not a luxury but a necessity for sustained success.
It is possible to do more, with less stress.
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