Are you working too hard? Take a moment and really reflect on that question.
High performers often unconsciously confuse effort with worth. Because working hard can be a habit, an identity, or a cherished success factor, we may overlook that some of our efforts create unnecessary difficulty. It’s as if when something feels too easy, it can trigger doubt that we aren’t really earning the result.
As we grow our experience, relationships, skills, and abilities, some things in life should feel and be easier. Momentum is the reward for past discipline. Ease can compound as we evolve, if we embrace it and recognize it as an earned advantage. To begin to realize the value of ease, start by clarifying the friction and meaningful challenge that is worth keeping in your life: hard conversations, creative constraints, fresh goals, the joy of a dynamic day at work, or rigorous thinking. Then, examine difficulties worth questioning, such as bureaucratic busyness, misaligned priorities, outdated processes, old goals, or a performative ego.
Instead of misplacing our effort, we need to value the ability to find the simpler path. Stripping away complexity, delegating wisely, and leveraging your experience are aspects of high performance. Designing your work well so it feels good and you benefit from efficiency is a next-level talent.
Here are steps to support you in doing a friction audit:
- List out the top three things that challenge you. For each one, ask: Is this difficult because it’s important and valuable, or is it just something I’ve been doing the same way without redesigning my approach?
- Identify one goal or commitment that feels heavy right now. Ask yourself: Was this goal set by the person I was or the person I am today? Goals have expiration dates. Make it okay to let go of old goals.
- Ask someone you trust this question: Where do you see me making things harder than they need to be? Others can often see our friction faster than we can.
- Pick one recurring task you do and push yourself to creatively reimagine your process by challenging yourself to do it in half the time you typically do (or with half the effort) and without sacrificing quality. This will help you see what’s essential when you do this task.
- Index your expertise. Make a short list of the things that are easy for you to do, even though they might be harder for others. This helps you get comfortable with where you benefit from momentum.
Leaders realize that easy isn’t something to fear; it’s earned through effort. The more you let go of unnecessary difficulty, the more capacity you have for the challenges that matter most.
Founded in 2004, Lead Star is the company behind the best-selling books SPARK, Leading from the Front, and Bet on You. Lead Star helps professionals reach new levels of success through its innovative leadership development programs.
