The Efficiency Penalty: When Doing More Gets You More Work
Why High Performers Always End Up Slowing Down
What do schools, gyms, hiking, or workplaces have in common? They are very good at lowering and averaging out performance. Here is the same lesson that keeps repeating itself no matter where we go.
At school, we would get tasks in our workbooks to complete. I was always among the top 3–5 who finished first. Upon completion, I would put my head down on the desk and sleep. But the teacher didn’t like that, so they would give us an extra exercise to complete. We learned quickly and managed our time to finish together with the rest.
At the gym, I finish my rounds rather quickly so I could take ample rest until the others complete theirs. But do you think this is what happens? I need to run another 400 meters or complete another set of exercises. No — I take it easy and finish with the others.
At work, well, we all know the saying: “The reward for being good at your job or being efficient is more work.” So we learned this lesson, and employees are spending millions of hours at work unproductive. Most could finish their jobs much earlier, but we have taught them that it is not the best idea, as they will just be given more.
During hiking, I learned a different lesson, though. Why? Because there is no more mountain to give to high performers; otherwise, the same would apply.
Hiking has taught me that high performers have it much easier and this is how it should be every other aspects of life. During hikes, we march ahead, then remember the rest of the team, we take a break while waiting for them and have food, drink, laughter, and fun. The moment they catch up, we set out again. They never get the same amount of rest because us leaving puts pressure on them to continue. They are constantly struggling while we have it much easier.
The only way to avoid this is to put people with similar capabilities together. The same applies at work if capabilities are widely different. There will be those who are already in Abu Dhabi while the others are still putting petrol in their cars in Dubai. That is not a team, that is a bunch of people doing their own thing.
A team requires similar performance from each individual; otherwise, performance will be averaged out. High performers will lower their input, and lower performers will continue doing what they are doing.
If you punish high performance, you will get average.