If getting hustled is a bad thing, why is hustling at work a good thing?
We’ve come to glorify and glamorize the hustle that’s been ingrained in working life in this country. We celebrate the people that burn the midnight oil. We brag about being busy. We make martyrs out of those that sacrifice big portions of their lives for the good of the company. And as a result, we all learn that if you want to get ahead, you make these same (or bigger) sacrifices yourself.
It’s burning people out at an alarming rate and causing mental health declines like we’ve never seen before. And it’s not great for business either. Burned out people cost organizations up to $190 billion annually.
What if we started celebrating a different kind of culture in the workplace?
- Instead of celebrating hustling, what if we showed how much we value people living fulfilling lives that show up to work strong, whole and ready to engage?
- By setting goals that are attainable, creating safe spaces for workers to speak up around their needs, and celebrating work that gets done without constant grueling sacrifice, organizations have a chance to create the new normal for the workplace.
- A normal where workers are seen as whole people, not just cogs in the machine; where living a fulfilling life is as important as the work getting done; where trust can flourish and real connections can grow.
There’s never been a better time to ditch the cut-throat hustle culture and embrace a future of collaboration, belonging and lives well lived.
After all, no one trusts a hustler.
