The surprising downside of high-performing employees
High-performing employees are valued by organizational leaders for good reason. They’re reliable, adaptable, and willing to step in when something needs to get done. When responsibilities are unclear or processes break down, they figure it out. When a team is stretched thin, they pick up the slack. And because they consistently deliver, leaders learn that they can give them more. However, Lauren…
High-performing employees are crucial for organizational success, known for their reliability and adaptability. However, their strengths can also mask deeper organizational issues. Lauren Cohen, founder of Cohen Leadership Group, explains that when these capable individuals take on more work, companies can continue operating despite inadequate leadership systems.
This can lead to burnout as these employees carry the burden of systemic failures. Cohen notes that organizations often reinforce this dynamic, expecting capable employees to solve issues within the same underdeveloped systems that created the problems. The solution lies in recognizing that leadership systems need to evolve alongside the organization's growth, and that burnout reduction should be prioritized alongside performance metrics.
Employees, even in toxic environments, can set boundaries and influence change, but ultimately, the system's structure must adapt to support the well-being of its high-performing individuals.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
