No one cares how busy you are. Neither should you

Throughout my career, I've worked with hundreds of people as part of a team, and directly managed more than 100 employees at different times. I've come across many who boast about their long hours and constant busyness, expecting admiration and respect. But honestly, those stories never impressed me.

I've never understood why people think "I work a lot" or "I'm always busy" should be a badge of honor. Why should employers value employees who stay late every night, constantly proclaiming how swamped they are? They talk a lot about it, but don’t do anything to change it. You can’t even call it complaining - it’s presented as a virtue, a part of their personality.

Nobody benefits from an overworked employee who sacrifices their personal life because "I work a lot" is their top value. A person who can't think of anything better than sitting in the office, no matter how nice it is, isn’t someone to admire.

The real value lies in employees who work efficiently and get their job done well and on time. If they leave early, come in late, do whatever it takes to keep their life interesting and on-track while they’re working remotely or take breaks during the day, it shouldn’t matter as long as the work is completed and done well.

Some may call this laziness, but those who avoid pointless grinding and daily drudgery are often the ones who find creative solutions. They streamline processes, improve systems, and handle tasks faster and better, using the extra time for either more challenging tasks or quality rest.

Society has tricked us into thinking that being busy means being important. David Graeber of “Bullshit Jobs” fame (read his book, it’s really awesome) traces it back to religion and deeply ingrained beliefs that the point of this life is suffering, so that you can be rewarded in heaven. I won’t go as deep though, I’m not an anthropologist.

I can only confidently say that whatever the genesis of this belief - it’s woefully misguided. Busyness leads to rushed decisions, mistakes, and missed opportunities. It creates regrets, and regret is the last thing anyone wants. It hampers creativity as well, leaving no room to do nothing, what Manoush Zomorodi, author of “Bored and Brilliant” calls “mind wandering” - the space that helps us become our most productive and creative selves.

I enjoy working with people who value their time and focus on true productivity. They don’t compete to see who can stay the latest or send the most emails. They aim to do their job well and use their time effectively.

As a leader, focusing on efficiency over busyness sets a positive example. It inspires your team to be more engaged, motivated, and loyal. It fosters a culture of creativity and innovation, where everyone feels valued and understood.

Personal values are the bedrock of effective leadership, especially in creative fields. Recognizing, aligning, and living these values leads to a more authentic and impactful leadership experience. To dive deeper into these principles, check out Season 1: Creative Leadership Fundamentals. Sign up today and start transforming your leadership journey by focusing on what truly matters.