Most of us get overwhelmed at work once in a while (more often for some).
If we operate in a “hero culture”, we don’t say anything. We work harder and smarter, convinced that we can pull it off on our own. “One day soon,” we say to ourselves, “I’ll be a hero for getting this done.”
In large organizations with a hero culture, the reality is that someone is always dropping a ball somewhere. And sometimes, it’s an important ball – one that should never have touched the ground.
To avoid a hero culture, a leader must know what her team is working on and determine if the resources are adequate. If they are not, a choice needs to be made: do we add resources or do we drop a ball. When we decide to drop a ball, at least we can choose which one.
Remember: heroes are supposed to be the exception.
The Ethical Leader 