{
  "id": 9305413,
  "title": "The surprising downside of high-performing employees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/the-surprising-downside-of-high-performing-employees",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T08:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91607997/surprising-downside-high-performing-employees"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}