TrueTribe

When Performance Drains You

Technology has made our work smarter, but also more demanding. We are always "on," always reachable. This takes a toll. Small signals pile up: monotony, brain fog, less initiative. Not due to a lack of motivation but because the system is overloaded.

Our brains crave rest, yet we scroll away the silence.

Since 2007, our clicking, swiping, and reacting have only increased—and so have mental health issues. Concentration wanes, genuine connection fades. Taking breaks? We hardly do it anymore. As a result, I see the data: more stress, more burnout, more friction—both at work and at home.

I feel it too. After a day full of stimuli, I’m tapped out. There’s no space left to reflect on what truly matters to me. Without rest and reflection, you lose direction: What do I want? Where can I make a difference?

That moment of stillness is precisely what’s needed to stay in motion—as a professional and as a person.

Growth as Preventive Strength

Self-fulfillment isn’t about working harder but about meaningful growth. Having the space to choose, learn, set boundaries, and find purpose in what you do.

Research consistently shows: those who can develop themselves stay longer, experience less absenteeism, and are more resilient. People who learn don’t burn out as quickly. They know why they do what they do and where they’re heading.

Growth Isn’t Done Alone

Looking back, I see how crucial it was to recognize opportunities—and to act on them. But you can only “see” them if you occasionally pause.

I found pausing difficult. I preferred to power through—work, family, friends, ambitions. Yet the moments when I stumbled taught me the most. To listen. To learn. To create space for genuine conversations. With colleagues, friends, my family—and leaders who continued to believe in me.

Everything I’ve learned—from the treatment room to the boardroom—I now use to help others work stronger. Not just as individuals but also as teams and organizations.

Because work is more than performance. It’s about meaning, participation, and connection. And that’s where the power of self-fulfillment lies.

Not a Bonus but the Core of Work

Self-fulfillment isn’t an individual luxury but a systemic issue. Whether someone can develop depends not just on the person but also on the context: leadership, culture, and room to learn.

Self-fulfillment doesn’t happen on its own. It requires conscious choices about how we organize work.

What You Can Do as a Leader Today

Self-fulfillment doesn’t require a polished talent program or an expensive platform. Technology accelerates—but people want to deepen. They don’t just want to deliver; they want to grow. Not despite work, but because of it.

It starts with simple yet powerful choices:

Have genuine development conversations—not check-the-box moments.
Provide opportunities to explore new roles or responsibilities.
Allow people to make mistakes—and learn from them.
Ask the question: What do you want to contribute, and what do you need to do so?

Without perspective, mental health remains fragile. So don’t just focus on recovery but on growth. Not just on output but on future resilience.

So the real question is: Do you see the person behind the employee? Are you fostering personal growth—or only task proficiency?

Curious about how we make conversations about growth, ownership, and development space concrete in teams—without making it heavy or overwhelming? Let me know, and I’d be happy to share more.