HR Expert Explains Why Being Too Competent at Work Could Be Your Downfall

Are you the hyper-organized person at work who’s always fixing problems and helping others out? If yes, you might be at risk of experiencing what’s called a “competence hangover”—a trending new term used to describe burnout after consistently taking on too much and over-functioning at work.

Peter Duris, CEO & Co-founder at Kickresume explains how being “too competent” could lead to burnout and a competence hangover, and also offers tips on how this could be prevented.

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, comments:

“If you frequently go above and beyond at work, it could result in a “competence hangover”—the type of burnout you can get when you feel inherently responsible for keeping things afloat. Wanting to make sure everything gets done to a high standard is great, but it can also take a toll over time, leading to unnecessary stress.

“If this sounds like you, it’s worth stepping back and reducing your mental load. Being the person everyone relies on can be very draining and lead to burnout. Remember that it’s okay to say no when your workload gets too heavy.”

Tips for employees with a competence hangover

• Understand you don’t have to be perfect. Perfectionism can mean holding yourself to very high standards. It’s important to understand that you don’t have to be perfect at work (or in life) and that going above and beyond is a bonus, not a requirement 100% of the time.
• Set boundaries. Helping others out is great, but it can also increase your workload if you take on too much. Instead of taking on tasks without question, you could try saying that you may be able to help out after finishing a priority task. This then won’t commit you to taking on more work.
• Reduce any overtime. If you’re feeling the symptoms of burnout and “competence hangover,” it could be time for a step back. You can try reducing any overtime you may be doing to help improve your work-life balance and focus on your main priorities instead.

Tips for managers

• Recognize hard workers. If you’ve noticed that one person seems to be taking on a lot of the work that people rely on to get work done to a high standard, let them know. Appreciate their effort publicly and give credit where it’s due. It’s also worth having a chat with those who are always taking on more responsibilities, and reassure them that they don’t have to take on more than their typical workload.
• Delegate responsibilities evenly. If you think one person on your team is doing more work than the rest, it’s important to consider whether the workload is being distributed evenly. To help avoid burn out, tasks and projects should be shared fairly so nobody is put under unnecessary pressure.
• Encourage employees to use their PTO. To help reduce stress and improve work-life balance, actively encourage your team to use all of their PTO allowance. This is especially vital for workers who consistently take on a lot.