People and Culture Shared Interest Group

When I see job descriptions saying "the ideal candidate must be able to work under high pressure & in a fast-paced environment," I genuinely wonder how normalized that has become.

Ever since I started working, I've heard people constantly talk about burnout, being overworked, staying stretched all the time, almost like pressure is proof that you're working hard enough. And honestly, because of hearing that so much, I sometimes wonder if I'm doing "less" just because I haven't experienced that kind of pressure myself.

Sure, there are deadlines, occasional overtime days, and demanding phases at work. But fortunately, the leaders I've worked under so far have never pushed me beyond what felt manageable as a human being.

It just makes me wonder - when did exhaustion become such a normal part of work culture?

Would love to know everyone's thoughts and experiences on this.

Hi Yukta,

This is a very relevant topic that highlights a contemporary issue across many industries. Unfortunately, in countries like India, productivity and efficiency are often measured by the number of hours a person spends working rather than the actual output or value they create. In many Western workplaces, including at the leadership level, people tend to maintain clear boundaries around their working hours and focus on completing their responsibilities within that timeframe-except during critical deadlines or particularly demanding periods.

Additionally, greater emphasis on focused and efficient work can significantly improve productivity. Time that is often spent checking personal phones, engaging in unnecessary gossip, or taking frequent informal breaks could instead be channelled toward completing tasks more effectively and efficiently.

You posted a very genuine concern. Job postings usually say that 'non-standard hours are normal' which is another way of saying that your schedule is going to be extremely unpredictable. That is not a healthy work culture unfortunately, but some corporations actively encourage it.

I do think that some millennial leaders are changing this way of work, but the examples are still limited.

I try to do my part by scheduling work according to reasonable timelines, and thankfully my reporting line manager supports that way of work as well.

One thing I've learned is that being busy and creating value aren't always the same thing.

Some of the strongest leaders I've worked with created calm during stressful situations rather than adding to the pressure. That had a much bigger impact on performance than constantly pushing people to work harder.