The Downside of Being Super-Productive
Are you known for your ability to get things done? Are you typically focused on taking action? Is one of your biggest motivators “making things happen”?
If you answered “yes” to those questions, I’m not surprised. High performers are often known for their ability to knock out one task after another. While your focus on action may be one of your greatest strengths, today I want you to examine whether you may be overusing that strength — and to consider whether varying your approach could help you accomplish even more.
Too Much Doing, Not Enough Being
While your take-charge attitude may serve you well in many ways, let’s take a look at the potential downside. If you’re always doing and never pausing to just be sometimes, you can find yourself in situations like these:
- When you always have your head down driving results, what are you missing? What didn’t you notice about what else is happening around you, from political nuances to people’s reactions, or other important information you should be aware of?
- In the same way, you become less aware of your own emotional state. How are you “showing up”, and how does that impact your effectiveness as a leader?
- What is the impact of being extremely action-oriented on others’ opportunities to grow and develop? If you always ensure that no balls get dropped, how will others ever experience the consequences of their own inaction or poor choices?
- Even though you often “save the day” for colleagues, how else could that behavior be perceived? Don’t be surprised if you get pegged as someone who doesn’t trust others and encroaches into other people’s territory.
Overall, you may be getting a lot done in the short-term but are you really creating the followership you need to get things done in the long-term? Leadership is all about working with and through others.
How to Step Back
If you assume that nothing will happen unless you do it or drive it, you may have to stop to remind yourself that you weren’t hired to do everything on your own. Strong leaders are expected to cultivate capability and foster accountability in others, and tap into the team’s strengths. Given my own bias towards action, I’ve had to work hard to simply let go and let things unfold.
I want to encourage you to take your foot off the gas pedal and review these strategies to see what might work for you:
- Balance results with relationships. Many people forget that work is about getting results while building relationships. If you tend to keep your head down and focus more on the work, set aside some time in your day to genuinely connect with others. A quick email or a conversation in the hallway can do the trick.
- Be present. Whether you’re talking with one person or with a group, be in the moment. Refrain from checking your phone or fidgeting, which conveys that you would rather be doing something else.
- Prioritize time to reflect. I give this important piece of advice time and again, and it always makes a huge difference. Start by reserving just 15 minutes per week on your calendar for time to think. Reflect about meetings you’ve just attended and be thoughtful about the ones coming up. By giving your mind time to process, you’ll start bringing a more strategic, creative perspective to what you do.
- Check in with yourself. Throughout the week, notice your stress level and how you’re showing up each day. By simply increasing your self-awareness, you can proactively implement strategies to get you back on track.
- Delegate with development in mind. Sometimes you do just have to jump in and get things done. But if this is your default leadership style, pause before you dive in. First ask yourself whether the work you are about to complete might present an opportunity to delegate with development in mind. Who could learn or benefit from doing this work?
- Simply allow. When you notice your impulse to act, ask yourself “What would happen if I just let things unfold?” It could mean letting others make decisions and experiencing the consequences of their choices. If this feels risky, try it out on a smaller scale first and see what happens.
I want to challenge you to pick one strategy and try it out over the next week. You can still be a “make things happen” kind of leader, but with an approach that works more effectively in the long-term . For more insights on taking your leadership to the next level, check out my award-winning WOW! Women On the Way to Peak Performance Program. Available in self-paced and facilitated versions, it’s one of the best investments you can make in your future.
