Making the distinction between being a workaholic and a hard worker

Last week, Elon Musk reportedly demanded that his employees indicate they are willing to “work to the bone” to achieve his goals for Twitter, causing a sharp intake of breath for leaders and HR professionals around the world. 

Over the last decade, and even more since the global pandemic, the concept of work-life balance, and being mentally and physically healthy is seen as the holy grail for employees and employers alike.  Leaders that value work to the exclusion of other activities, who allow work to damage health and relationships, and hold their employees to their standards, are perceived to be not just old fashioned, but dangerous.  Being aware of the boundaries between enjoying hard work and being workaholic is an important learning for any leader.

Understand the difference between being “busy” and being productive

Workaholics work hard because they need to feel busy. They feel guilty and insecure if they are not constantly working or worrying about work. By contrast, hard workers understand the value they represent to their organisation, they are secure in their roles and their achievements. They appreciate that meeting goals is more important than being busy. And they are happy to stop working and celebrate success, before moving on to the next challenge. 

Set boundaries and know how far you are prepared to flex these

The workaholic default position is to prioritise work over personal life. They lack the ability to switch off after work, regularly checking emails late into the night or whilst on holiday. They have a need to be indispensable, coupled with anxiety if they are “out of the loop” for a few days.  Hard workers are able to plan their work and set boundaries, to enable them to take time off without guilt. When situations arise that require them to work overtime to meet a goal, they are able to replan, delegate and be flexible, to meet a specific need. Working late is a tool that can be invoked flexibly, but not a state of mind. 

Don’t be a slave to technology, but use it as a means to drive efficiency

Technological advances mean that we can now connect to the workplace anytime, anywhere. Hybrid working has blurred the lines between working time and personal time. A workaholic becomes anxious if they don’t check in, clear emails, respond within a certain timeframe – the are constantly “on”.  On the flip side, the hard worker understands how to step back and look at the structure of their day, and how to creatively use technology to be more efficient, to claw time back for themselves. That might mean going for a walk whilst listening to a conference call download, or working on the commute to finish urgent tasks.

Love what you do and find a balance that works for you

Hard workers are passionate. They love what they do at work, but equally they enjoy their free time and place at least equal value on achieving personal goals. They are able to put down their work phone at the end of the day and be present in the moment with friends and family.  They are comfortable to put aside work, as they are confident in themselves, their team members and their value to their organisation.  This confidence comes from supportive leaders who regularly give feedback and recognition for achievements, not time in the office.

If you would like to learn more about developing as a leader with the CBI, and the programmes we have on offer, please contact me.