(Test-Buhle) How to get sustainable business transformation right
Sustainable business transformation is a difficult act to pull off. Julia Binder identifies the roadblocks and the drivers of change to enhance your chances of success. ...
Brain Circuits
Health check for leaders: can your drive for perfection lead you to burnout?
All leaders are driven to succeed. But is your ‘be-perfect driver’ impelling you to chase the unachievable? Answer these eight questions honestly to check whether you need to watch out for potential burnout – and discover how to regain your equilibrium.
8 questions to ask yourself
- Do I routinely find myself doing and saying things to please people?
- Do I often want to say no but end up saying yes instead?
- Do I often feel resentment, stress, or pressure because of a disconnect between what I want and what I think others want from me?
- Do I struggle to ‘fit in’ at work?
- Do I define myself through the lens of other people, rather than through my achievements?
- Do I have a strong tendency to fail in prioritizing my needs?
- Do I feel pain in my body (shoulder pain, back pain, headaches) on a regular basis?
- Do I sometimes feel a physical reaction when I go to work or when I think about work?
What your answers say about you
If you answered ‘yes’ to most of the above questions, it sounds like you’re struggling to control everything in pursuit of perfection, while failing to disconnect from (largely self-imposed) pressures of work. Your drive for perfection is impacting your well-being, and you need to put self-regard above seeking approval from others.
Preventing burnout
If you feel you don’t have the emotional and physical resources to continue working at this pace, you should get professional help by consulting a psychiatrist, therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider. If you are not at that stage yet, the following techniques can help reduce the risk of burnout:
Exercising
Somatic exercises (movements such as breathing techniques, guided meditation, dance, and other physical workouts) will help restore your equilibrium.
Connecting with your ‘inner child’
You need to reconnect with your inner motivation – and rediscover feelings of joy and authenticity. Your inner child can help counteract the burdensome expectations you’re imposing on yourself through playfulness.
Practical tip: Put your favorite music track on and dance, sing out loud, or do whatever feels good. The aim is to activate your joyful, spontaneous self. This can support you tremendously in the challenges you’re facing right now.
Accepting yourself
It’s time to unmask the ‘saboteurs’ in your life, such as the urge to please others, the drive to be perfect, the need to control, and the desire to fit in. The first step is to identify the saboteurs and be aware when they surface, so you can calmly decide to go another way.
Key takeaway
The need to achieve can help drive performance temporarily, but you need to combine it with sustainable well-being, so you can thrive and give your best self at work. It’s about ‘taking off the mask’ to reveal your whole, authentic self and connecting more deeply with work, performing in new ways that have greater impact and influence, and inspiring others in more meaningful ways.
Authors
Related
There are 4 types of responsible leader. Which one are you?
Every leadership approach has its pros and cons. Recognizing your style and knowing how to blend different approaches – and avoid the traps – will improve your ability to respond to challenges...
So, you think you’re ready for retirement?
Most senior leaders struggle with the decision to step down, often holding on long after their optimal departure date. Take this quiz to find out if you’re really ready – and read...
Are you addressing diversity bias in GenAI?
A recent survey by IMD, Microsoft, and Ringier reveals that just 35% of organizations have strategies to address diversity bias in GenAI. Alexander Fleischmann identifies the risks and suggests ways to mitigate...
Learn Brain Circuits
Join us for daily exercises focusing on issues from team building to developing an actionable sustainability plan to personal development. Go on - they only take five minutes.
Explore Leadership
What makes a great leader? Do you need charisma? How do you inspire your team? Our experts offer actionable insights through first-person narratives, behind-the-scenes interviews and The Help Desk.
Join Membership
Log in here to join in the conversation with the I by IMD community. Your subscription grants you access to the quarterly magazine plus daily articles, videos, podcasts and learning exercises.