The Downside of Hyper-Competency
What is Hyper-Competency?
Hyper-competency is the relentless pursuit of excellence in every aspect of work and life. It's the drive to exceed expectations, master every skill, and handle all responsibilities flawlessly. While striving for excellence is commendable, hyper-competency can have a dark side, especially for women in leadership positions.
So why do we do it? Put simply: we’ve been told we have to. We’re made to believe that in order to “make it” we have to work twice as hard as our male counterparts to even be considered. We’ve entangled our worth in our ability to overperform and do so on our own, without anyone’s help and without anyone knowing how difficult it was (because if we ask for help we’re weak and if we talk about challenges then we’re complaining). Our imposter syndrome tells us that we don’t “belong here” so we push and push ourselves to be the best and be perfect just to keep our seat at the table.
This was ME. I lived this constantly as a new general manager. I firmly believed that I had to be the first one in and the last one out just to prove that I was working. I also thought that I had to do everything myself because if I delegated anything I was basically handing off parts of my worth. I said yes to everything because I was afraid that if I said no, my bosses would regret hiring me as the GM. Yes, these fears meant that I worked hard, over delivered on expectations, and was considered “good” at my job, but at what cost? What are the consequences of hyper-competence and what do we lose out on when we say yes to everything?
The Detrimental Effects
Burnout: Constantly pushing to be perfect in all areas can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion.
Unreasonable Expectations: Hyper-competency sets an unrealistic standard that others may expect you to maintain, leading to increased pressure and stress.
Reduced Delegation: Trying to do everything yourself can hinder effective delegation. This not only increases your workload but also limits the growth opportunities for your team.
How do we make a shift?
Consider what work has the most impact, put your focus there. It’s not about doing the most work, it’s about doing the work that matters most.
What are the things that you can delegate? In order to do that, get clear on the ways that you can teach and empower your team to confidently take on those tasks.
Check in with yourself. Notice when you feel the pressure to be hyper-competent. What are the patterns you see? Is this work truly aligned with your priorities and your intentions?
There’s strength in strategy - if we keep mindful of our time and what we put our energy into we can empower ourselves to live and lead intentionally.
Action Steps for Leaders
Reflect: Identify areas where you feel the pressure to be hyper-competent. Ask yourself if these areas align with your core priorities.
Simplify: Narrow your focus to a few key areas where you can make the most impact. Allow yourself to be "good enough" in less critical areas.
Delegate: Trust your team. Delegation is a sign of strength, not weakness. It empowers your team and frees you to focus on strategic leadership.
Self-Care: Make time for self-care and set boundaries. Taking care of yourself is essential for sustainable leadership.
Embracing Authentic Leadership
True leadership isn't about being perfect; it's about being authentic, resilient, and strategic. By letting go of hyper-competency, we can lead more effectively and inspire others to do the same. Embrace your strengths, acknowledge your limits, and lead with confidence and balance.
