In a world that glorifies hustle, the old adage work smarter, not harder often gets lost. But what if working harder isn’t working for us anymore? This is the central theme of my experience on leadership in professional environments as investment banking. The pursuit of success through ceaseless labour is a vicious cycle, especially evident among professionals in high-stakes fields like law, consulting, and finance.
The phenomenon of working extreme hours is not just a matter of personal choice; it’s deeply rooted in the culture of elite professional organizations. These firms often seek out what they term “insecure overachievers”: exceptionally capable individuals driven by a profound sense of their own inadequacy. Despite their competencies, these professionals harbour a deep-seated fear of underperforming, which is further intensified by the competitive, “up-or-out” nature of promotion within these organizations.
My experience is that these insecure overachievers often attribute their work habits to personal choice. However, they overlook how these choices are shaped by the organizational culture and the implicit expectations set by their peers and leaders. These expectations create a powerful social control mechanism, where long hours become normalized and even valorised.
Interestingly, despite the investments many of these organizations make in work-life balance and wellness programs, the pressure to overwork persists. The professionals believe they are solely to blame for their inability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, perpetuating a cycle of guilt and overwork.
For leaders, recognizing the impact of organizational culture on individual behaviours is crucial. It’s important to understand that fostering a healthy work environment is not just about offering support programs but also about challenging the underlying beliefs that equate long hours with higher value. Leaders have a responsibility to model behaviour that prioritizes efficiency and well-being, demonstrating that success does not necessitate self-sacrifice.
So, if you find yourself questioning why you are working harder than ever, it might be time to reflect on how your insecurities are being manipulated, intentionally or not, by the culture of your workplace. Achieving a balance might require reevaluating not just how you work, but also the environment in which you work. Remember, real success enables a life well-lived, not just a career well-done.
Josep Ma Romances, President and Founder of Closa Capital.
