I’m working too hard. What about you? Many of us carry the belief that hard work always pays off, but new studies on the effects of long working hours on productivity say that the opposite is actually true. A recent article on The Business Journals – seen here – talks about what really happens when you work too hard.

Is working too hard bad for your career?

We’ve all heard the advice that you need determination to succeed. “Never give up,” they say. “You’ve got to put in the hours,” they say.

That’s true – to a certain extent. If you’re an entrepreneur or just starting out in your career you need to get stuff done. You’ve got to make the right contacts and build up your momentum. Just power through the stress and do the work even when you don’t want to. You’ll probably feel like you’re rolling a huge boulder up a steep hill. The question, “Is working too hard bad for your career?” probably never crosses your mind.

Perhaps you like facts and are a data junkie like me. Which means I put in some research on what working really hard actually does (or doesn’t do) for your career. Watch it below and share if you are a workaholic.

 

 

Reaching the Tipping Point

Then one great day you reach the tipping point. You’re at the top and you’re about to get the well-deserved reward for all your hard work. This is a good time to take a break. Once your business takes off you have to be there to support it. If you’re not at your best you risk seeing the effects of long working hours on productivity – which are not more money and success. You’re more likely to see results like illness, broken relationships, and angry coworkers.

Yes, working too hard and long can potentially alienate your coworkers. The dirty truth is that people will hate you for it. You’re cutting into their relaxation time and making them look bad. Nobody wants to hear from a boss or coworker during the weekend, late at night, or early in the morning.

Is working too hard bad for your career? Yes, it is – on many different levels. The effects of long working hours on productivity are almost always bad over time. The trick is not working long hours; it’s getting a lot accomplished. As they say – work smarter, not harder (and know when to take a break).

 

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Beate Chelette is the Founder of The Women’s Code and serves as the Programming Chair for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-LA). Once $135,000 in debt and a single mother, she successfully sold her business to Bill Gates in a multi-million dollar deal.

Beate’s supports Business Owners and organizations who want to reach them two-fold. As The Growth Architect she creates training, outreach and sponsorship programs through customized Entrepreneur skills training following the 5 Star Success Blueprint that shows step-by-step how to grow, build and scale businesses.

In addition Beate provides leadership development programs for organizations that want to implement the ROI of Balanced Leadership through The Women’s Code, her signature system that educates leaders and helps companies achieve gender equality. The Women’s Code creates and implements programs that improve organizational culture, foster productive work environments and help companies improve their people ROI.

Beate is a respected speaker and mentor and is the author of the #1 International Amazon Bestseller “Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go From Overwhelmed to Awesome”, a book that corporate trainer and best-selling author Brian Tracy calls “a handbook for every woman who wants health, success and a fulfilling career.”

If you’d like to book Beate as a speaker on Leadership or Entrepreneurship for your next event please connect here.