f your team can’t seem to slow down—even during vacations or quiet periods—you may be dealing with more than ambition. You’re likely facing an “entrainment cycle,” where employees become physically and emotionally synced to an unsustainable pace. This isn’t just a personal issue; it’s an organizational one. And if you want long-term performance, you need to break the cycle. Here’s how. 

Address the tempo, not just the hours. Telling people to disconnect won’t work if your systems reward urgency. Redesign how work gets done: Slow down project pacing, reduce artificial deadlines, and eliminate reactive tasks. Shift to asynchronous communication and cut unnecessary meetings. Structural changes like a four-day workweek can also help, but only if the goal is to reset your tempo, not cram more work into less time. You’re not just adjusting schedules—you’re changing the rhythm.  

Watch for warning signs and keep making adjustments.Over-synchronized employees often look productive but struggle to rest. Watch for anxiety during downtime, trouble disconnecting, or working in secret during time off. These are red flags, not badges of commitment. Use regular check-ins or pulse surveys to spot trouble early. If engagement drops or burnout rises, adjust workloads and reset expectations. A sustainable tempo supports both performance and well-being.

Adapted from New Research on Why Teams Overwork—and What Leaders Can Do About It by Ioana Lupu and Shanming Liu

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