I used to work for an advertising agency right out of college. I quickly made friends with a colleague, let’s call her Sally (after all, When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie).
Sally had been at the ad agency for a few months before I joined it, and she was determined to make a name for herself in the industry and quickly climbed the ladder of success. Sally was highly talented and capable of producing remarkable campaigns; however, her drive for perfection and the culture of competition within the agency soon began taking its toll on her.
At first, the competitiveness seemed to fuel her motivation. She would spend countless hours researching, brainstorming, and meticulously crafting her ideas. But as time went on, the bar for success kept getting higher, and the pressure to outshine our colleagues became overwhelming. I had already had this same feeling in the short time I was there.
In the name of ambition, Sally started sacrificing her personal life. She worked late nights, making calls to her husband saying she’d be late, and weekends believing that it was the only way to stay ahead of the curve. The agency fostered a culture that glorified overwork, where staying late and burning the midnight oil were badges of honor. In fact, even at the end of the day, when I was done with my work, I had to wait to go home until my boss left, which usually wasn’t until 6:30 or 7 pm. I left once before she did, and when I arrived the next day, I got reprimanded. This never made sense to me.
However, this relentless pursuit of success began to wear Sally down. She found herself constantly exhausted, mentally and physically drained. Sleep became a luxury, as her mind raced with ideas and deadlines even during her few moments of respite.
The internal competition at the agency escalated as well. There was an unspoken expectation that each employee must outperform their colleagues, which fueled a toxic environment. Teammates stopped cooperating and started undermining each other’s efforts. Genuine collaboration gave way to unhealthy rivalry, creating a hostile atmosphere that only added to the mounting stress.
As the months went by, the pressure began to crack Sally’s spirit. The fear of failure haunted her every move, and any misstep felt like a colossal disaster waiting to happen. The constant stress escalated into anxiety, and her performance began to suffer. She found it difficult to concentrate, and her once vibrant creativity became stifled by the burdensome weight of competition.
The agency leadership, driven by their own ambition and desire for excellence, failed to acknowledge the toll it was taking on their employees. The importance of work-life balance was dismissively brushed aside in favor of meeting unrealistic deadlines and maintaining the perfect image of success.
Sally’s cry for help went unnoticed until one fateful day, when she collapsed in the office due to exhaustion. The incident shook the agency. Although I wish I could say it shook them into doing something about it.
It made them take notice for sure. But they thought it was Sally’s issue and didn’t see how the culture they were developing or how leadership played a role in what happened to Sally.
This isn’t the only company that is operating like this. I recently had someone reach out to me saying their company doesn’t care about work-life balance or employee engagement and how they wish their company did.
Working for companies, like this ad agency, is all too common, and it’s also fueled my desire and passion for helping leaders recognize the impact burnout is having on their people and organization. When leaders recognize they have the power to do something different in regards to burnout…they can take action and change behavior in order to prevent and address burnout…it literally can change and save lives.
Part of our process with our clients is initiating a series of reforms and promoting open dialogue, encouraging employees to share their struggles, and offering support. We ensure leaders are all on the same page and a new focus on work-life balance is prioritized.
Our partnership with companies creates transformation that is always gradual but incredibly impactful. As employees started supporting each other rather than competing against one another, the work environment transforms from toxic to nurturing. Collaboration and teamwork are once again valued and reinforced, creating a healthier and happier workplace.
Ironically, as the competitive pressure is alleviated, productivity and creativity soared. Employees, like Sally, can rediscovered their passion and drive. With a balanced approach to work, they are able to tap into their creativity without feeling overwhelmed. Ideas flow freely, and companies can regain so much more than their investment. They gain loyal employees.
This is a reminder that competition, when taken to the extreme, can contribute to burnout and hinder genuine progress. A work culture that encourages constant comparison and unrealistic expectations ultimately harms both individuals and organizations. It is essential for companies and leaders to foster an environment that values employee well-being, collaboration, and work-life balance, promoting a healthier and more sustainable path to success.
True success lies not in outshining others, but when you prevent and address burnout, your company is able to harness the collective potential of its employees, nurture their growth, and help them find fulfillment in their work.
