Being too driven

31.7.2017

We’ve all heard of – and some of us may personally know – excessively driven people who throw everything into their work, seem to be thriving, and then burn-out or have nervous break-downs after a prolonged period of stress.

 

As the world of work becomes increasing complex, it’s no surprise that such excessive driven-ness is becoming more common. In some workplaces, being driven can seem like the only way to survive.

 

But being well-motivated does not have to lead to emotional exhaustion. Mindfulness training can help to bring about high achievement in a more balanced way.

 

Why are people so driven?

The state of being driven can become addictive. One of the main chemical drivers of our ambition to succeed is dopamine.  Some people speak of it as the fuel that keeps us motivated to persevere and achieve a goal. But dopamine also plays a key part in the systems that underlie addiction. For some people, addiction is partially caused by a faulty dopamine processing system. The sense we might have of constant “needing” and “seeking” might in part be due to the way our brains have come to secrete and process dopamine.

 

Always chasing the rewards of success, we can fall in a cycle of becoming ever more driven.

 

For some of us, our powerful need to succeed can be driven not so much by a striving for reward but by our fear of failure.  Sometimes, the more successful we become, the more afraid of failure we are. More specifically we fear the shame of failure. This may be tied-in with early childhood challenges. When we’ve survived during difficult times, we often strive harder to prove we can succeed.

Mindfulness helps driven people interact better with others

Being excessively driven can lead to a single-focused mind-set. One can have a razor sharp focus at work but miss out on the benefits of working collaboratively with others. Reitz, Chaskalson and others (2016) studied the benefits of mindfulness training for business leaders. They found that those leaders who practiced mindfulness meditations for 10 minutes or more each day worked better with others. Working collaboratively, sharing the ownership of tasks, can help distribute the burden. That can lower stress levels and help improve the overall productivity of a team.

Switching off from work and sleep

Driven people quite often find it very difficult to switch off. This can affect sleep patterns, which in turn can make it difficult to concentrate at work. A recent study looked at participants who had been referred by a doctor for work-related stress and burnout. The group took part in a mixture of mindfulness meditation, yoga and exercise. Significant improvements were found in the quality of sleep but also in the levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Mindfulness training is a great tool for calming a busy and stressed mind. 

 

Research also suggests that people who practice mindfulness generally have a better work/life balance. It can be a great practice for driven people.

Mindfulness allows more focused thinking

Driven people are often keen to act, to move projects forwards towards an end goal. This can be great for productivity. But excessive drive can increase the likelihood of burnout. Research suggests that people who are more mindful have a better perspective on what they’re doing, they can concentrate better and learn from their actions more easily. More mindful people also regulate their emotions better. That can help to keep things in one more even keel when drive is high.

 

To learn more about mindfulness training at work, contact michael@mindfulnessworks.com or call (+44) 01223 75066