Strategies for preventing toxic performance in the workplace

We’ve all seen or e-meet influencers and business leaders who tout their rigorous routines: waking up at 4:30 AM, hitting the gym, meditating, and conquering their first $100,000 deal — all before sunrise. But beneath this polished exterior lies a darker reality: toxic productivity. Imagine having the same tasks routine at work. Feel already overwhelmed?

According to Dr. Will Cole, author of Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel, toxic productivity is often mistaken for success when it is stress and a sign of how our society lacks healthy limits. People wear it as a badge of respect and keep it mostly hidden.

Below, we will review the concept of toxic productivity and discuss how it affects teams. Please read to the end because we share comprehensive strategies to prevent this and promote a healthier work environment.

Put your finger down if:

• You’re expecting your employees to work overtime
• You notice your team members often turning down personal commitments or neglecting healthcare due to work demands
• You’re creating an environment where long hours are praised for productivity and efficiency
• You often consider the work team a family and consider it essential

If you have 2 or more points, you may be in or supporting a toxic productivity environment.

Toxic productivity can be described as an uncontrollable need to always feel productive at all costs, which can be detrimental to one’s mental and physical health.

Jenny Blake, podcaster and author of Free Time, Pivot, and Life After College, said that in the long run, this can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, depression, wasted time, and guilt over unfinished tasks. A false sense of “urgency” combined with prioritizing work over rest can turn any task into a source of stress. According to an Asana study in 2022, 40% of workers believe burnout is integral to success. And let’s be fair: the cultural content surrounding us supports this narrative with images of workaholics who have sacrificed their lives for their careers.

And just like Brittney Spears sang:

“With a taste of a poison paradise
I’m addicted to you
Don’t you know that you’re toxic?”

These lyrics encapsulate the allure and danger of toxic productivity perfectly. While the initial rush of approval and dopamine can be intoxicating, it’s essential to understand what drives this harmful behavior.

Did you know that a toxic workplace is 10.4 times more likely than a non-toxic one to cause an employee to quit? A company culture where continuous work is valued over employee well-being can create a toxic environment for people.

As Leonardo DiCaprio’s iconic character Jordan Belfort said in The Wolf of Wall Street, “Give yourself no choice but to succeed. Let the consequences of failure become so dire and unimaginable that you have no choice but to do everything you can to succeed.” While this thinking sounds promising, it can push employees to the limit. Unfortunately, many businesses, especially those in high-pressure sectors, follow the Wall Street ethos, demanding long hours and intense employee commitment.

It’s hard to tell when your work attitude is becoming unhealthy because some level of productivity is good. And while toxic performance manifests differently from person to person, here are some common red flags to look out for:

• Regular additional work. It’s okay to spend extra hours occasionally to complete an extensive project, but this practice can quickly become toxic if you do it regularly. It includes working on weekends, coming in early to “catch up” before the official start of the day, working late, and checking work feeds during downtime. Remember that there’s a difference between toxic productivity and burnout: If you voluntarily log extra hours, it can be toxic. If you’re doing it out of necessity, chances are you’re overworked.
• Feeling guilty about not getting enough work done, even if you do a reasonable number of tasks. A person suffering from toxic productivity often strives to get an extremely high volume of work done instead of what is reasonable. They have unrealistic expectations of themselves and feel guilty if they fall behind.
• The desire to only do things that have an obvious reason for being done. If something doesn’t help you reach your goal, it may seem like a waste of time when you have low productivity. You can avoid “unproductive” activities, such as spending time with friends and family, relaxing, and simply enjoying the moment.
• Neglecting self-care. If self-care activities like resting, cooking healthy meals, exercising, and spending time with loved ones seem like a waste, you might be dealing with toxic productivity. This mindset often leads to skipping meals to work longer hours or even postponing basic needs like using the bathroom or drinking water.
• Chronic anxiety or depression. The pressure to always be productive can severely impact your mental health. You may constantly feel anxious about unfinished tasks and not doing enough. Depression can also set in, particularly if toxic productivity isolates you from loved ones and activities you once enjoyed.
• Experiencing burnout. Excessive stress can lead to burnout. Although burnout manifests differently for everyone, common signs include chronic fatigue, depression, and various health issues.