Everyone has their own way of getting their point across, especially in crucial situations. Last week in the Leader’s Exchange Sandbox article, I talked about the ‘judge’ inside us all—the tendency to be overly critical of ourselves, others, and our circumstances.
But beyond this shared ‘judging’ mindset, we each have unique ways of expressing ourselves. Positive intelligence research identifies nine common personality archetypes.
One such pattern, particularly common among business owners, senior leaders, and salespeople, is what we call “hyper-achiever-ness.”
Here’s how my hyper-achiever-ness plays out: I love ticking off tasks and hitting goals, getting a burst of satisfaction with each success. But it doesn’t last long—I’m always chasing the next win. The recent accomplishment never feels enough; the next one seems more important.
I recently worked with a team whose CEO was the same. No matter how big or complex the task they completed, the leader always pushed for more, keeping the team in a state of constant drive.
Salespeople know this feeling too—always on to the next sale, never resting on their laurels.
While striving for more can energize and motivate, sometimes it’s too much. As they say, “too much of a good thing is too much.” Being in a state of constant striving isn’t sustainable and can end up demotivating the team.
Leaders with a hyper-achiever mindset might rush past failures, skipping detailed reviews because they see it as wasting time, if not progressing forward.
The moral here is to watch your inner dialogue. If you’re always pushing for the next goal, take a step back and reflect. Give space for you and your team to celebrate their wins and learn from their mistakes before moving on. Balance drive with mindfulness to maintain a motivated, sustainable workplace.
Take time today to assess your leadership style. Are you always pushing for the next goal? Pause…and reflect on recent successes with your team before setting new targets. Achieve greatness, but not at the cost of sustainability and team morale.
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