Imagine the fictional business of A.O.B. Cross Country Delivery LTD. Their task? To drive their fleet from the top of the UK to the bottom of it, make a delivery, then head back to base…
The boss of this business is obsessed with performance, efficiency and winning, so hires only the top drivers—those with the fastest lap times and records of long, relentless drives. They’re tasked with reaching the destinations no one has ever reached before, and in record time. Let’s call this elite group, Sonic Team.
Now you can’t measure performance without something to compare to, right? So, this boss creates another team (let’s call them Scenic Team), who are tasked with driving at a regular pace, stopping at sights along the way, and switching drivers frequently to ensure everyone stays fresh.
After several months… Scenic Team? They’ve loved the journey, taking in every view, their morale high and their energy sustained. They arrive at each checkpoint refreshed and ready for more. They got to the destination a day early and made their delivery with no issue.
Sonic Team? Nearly half have pulled over, exhausted. They’ve skipped meals, toilet breaks and scenic views, so they can be focused solely on that finish line. Those that remain are close to burning out, their enjoyment of the drive long vanished. They’re exhausted, sick and quite a few have phoned in to say they’re not sure they can do the drive home.
The point? For too long, a lot of businesses have aspired to rev up their engines with the Sonic Team model. We’ve pushed our teams to drive hard, fast, and continuously, thinking this would lead to quicker success and better results. But instead, it leads to fatigue, a breakdown in team cohesion and endless sick days.
So instead of pushing your team to floor it all the way to the horizon, why not map out a route that allows for growth, rest, and even some enjoyment along the way? After all, a team that travels well together, is more likely to stay healthy and reach their goals together.
If your organisation is struggling with sickness and exhaustion, it might be time to change gear. Slow down occasionally, share the driving, and enjoy the ride.
Because a non-stop drive is a sure-fire way to wear out even the best engines.