{"id":48768,"date":"2021-11-20T14:40:05","date_gmt":"2021-11-20T19:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/?post_type=articles&p=48768"},"modified":"2025-05-08T10:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T14:30:24","slug":"sleep-can-make-stronger-leader","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/sleep-can-make-stronger-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Actions Organizations Can Take to Improve Employee Sleep and Work Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if leaders were well-rested?<\/p>\n

Many executives and leaders are getting by on very little rest, and see no way around it. Even before the global pandemic, in a hyper-connected culture, managers were trying to squeeze out more and more from themselves and others, pushing for productivity, looking for an edge.<\/p>\n

Now, with leaders struggling to cope with pandemic stress<\/a> and burnout at an all-time high, organizations \u2014 and individuals \u2014 are suffering.<\/p>\n

When it seems there are not enough hours in the day, something has to give, and often, it\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

But sleep is not a luxury.<\/p>\n

The Connection Between Sleep and Work Performance<\/h2>\n

Sleeping less reduces brainpower, productivity, and the ability to communicate. It also diminishes concentration, lowers creativity, and impairs memory, motor, and people skills.<\/p>\n

At a very simple level, 2 important things take place when you get a good night\u2019s sleep:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The sleeping brain processes and organizes information.<\/li>\n
  2. The sleeping brain helps the body\u2019s stress response switch off.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These 2 functions, in turn, have an effect on memory, decision-making, attitudes, innovation, and creativity throughout the whole day.<\/p>\n

    If leaders are well-rested, they function at their best with better memories and stronger skills for making new and creative connections.<\/strong> They regulate emotions and engage with others more effectively. Stress decreases. The complexity of leading will be matched by the capability to respond with clarity, creativity, and productivity.<\/p>\n

    Our research about being tired at work<\/a> makes the case that senior leaders \u2014 and everyone else working in challenging, complex situations \u2014 need to get more sleep.<\/p>\n

    Lost sleep triggers moodiness, increases pressure and anxiety, and is related to a variety of serious health problems and increased healthcare costs.<\/p>\n

    Since a lack of sleep hinders leadership performance, it can put your organization at risk as a result. A recent study concluded that fatigue-related productivity losses cost an estimated $1,967 per employee annually.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A sleep-deprived workforce can cause significant damage to the organization. In the long term, it’s equally dangerous to the individual \u2014 according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)<\/a>, deficiencies in rest are linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.<\/p>\n

    Bottom line:<\/strong> Managers, executives, and many others are working long and hard, dealing with complex issues and facing unknown challenges. Not sleeping enough limits the ability to respond to complex organizational challenges, and a\u00a0lack of sleep hinders productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n


    \n\"Resilience<\/a>
    \nDive deeper into 8 practices that keep you healthy, focused, and functioning with our book,     Resilience That Works: Eight Practices for Leadership and Life<\/a><\/em>.<\/div>\n

    Improve Sleep, Improve Work Performance<\/h2>\n

    Organizations Play a Role in Helping Leaders Get Better Sleep<\/h3>\n

    Although sleep is a personal and individual matter, clearly workplace issues and organizational culture are affecting how people sleep. Plus, organizations suffer the costs of sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n

    Many leaders we\u2019ve worked with have voiced their concerns about their own fatigue and exhaustion and the way it relates to the unspoken cultural norms in their workplace. One leader in our research survey on sleep and leadership told us, \u201cAround me, I see too many people blitzed by long hours, stressful commutes, jet lag, poor diet, lack of exercise, and working while on holiday.\u201d Many leaders report burning the candle late into the night and in the early morning hours, sacrificing rest to fit more in the day.<\/p>\n

    The expectation to burn the candle at both ends can often be linked to the culture within an organization and the messages that are intentionally or unintentionally communicated throughout. That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical for organizations to take steps to improve the sleep-health of its workforce.<\/p>\n

    5 Practices for Sleep-Friendly Workplaces<\/h3>\n

    Many organizations, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Google, NASA, and Ben & Jerry\u2019s, have integrated healthy sleep practices. As outlined in our white paper<\/a>, here are 5 practices organizations can implement to become more sleep-friendly and support both better sleep and <\/em>productivity:<\/p>\n

    \"Infographic:<\/a><\/p>\n

    1. Provide sleep education.<\/h4>\n

    Create a \u201csleeping awareness\u201d program or campaign to challenge the cultural notion that sleep is a waste of time or a weakness. The effort could stand on its own, or be a component of an employee wellness program or larger development initiative.<\/p>\n