Burnt Out to Lit Up

7Get Right Within: Become the Manager Every Team Deserves

“I’m going to be mediocre today.”

During a check-in with one of my direct reports, she opened up about her struggles with an expanding workload. This conversation came at a tumultuous time for our company amid tough economic conditions and challenging employee expectations. On top of her demanding job, she was also juggling a busy home life, caring for two children, one with special needs. Despite my efforts to lighten her load by shifting deadlines and suggesting the possibility of a break, her anxiety was intensifying.

In a moment of candidness, I confessed, “Some days, I just tell myself, ‘I’m going to be mediocre today.’ It’s not about underperforming, but about easing the pressure off myself.” This idea of embracing mediocrity, not as a sign of weakness but as a mental and emotional shield, seemed to click with her. We shared a knowing smile and decided to aim for our “mediocre best,” understanding that it was a mental and emotional respite strategy, not a compromise of our standards.

And we joked that our output likely surpassed others even on these so-called mediocre days.

When the world seemed intent on burning us out, we had agency to say, “not today.” This strategy stemmed from my journey as a high-achieving woman of color. Why stop at 100% when you can crank it up at 110% and leave absolutely no room for doubt about why I should be the one climbing that ladder? Always going the extra mile, even when my tank ...