Overachievement - in The Workplace

In The Workplace

In the workplace, "overachievers have the drive, determination, passion, and energy needed to move huge projects forward." "Overachievers increasingly take on new projects and drive themselves to perfection, often becoming known as 'workaholics'." For workplace overachievers, "completing tasks above and beyond expectations provides the same physical and mental high as a drug." However, managers need to deal with the negative side of the overachiever personality: the overachiever employee may "set unrealistic expectations, work insane hours, and take risks to succeed at any cost", which can lead the employee to "become obsessed, dysfunctional, and ultimately unable to perform." Other issues with overachievers are that they "...typically forget to communicate vital information, often take shortcuts, and leave the details to someone else." As well, overachievers often "have difficulties interacting socially" and they are "at high risk for burnout".

According to "Dr. Richard Rawson, associate director of UCLA's Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, ...is popular with workers in overachieving, highly productive economies such as those in Japan and South Korea." Methamphetamines "have graduated into a formidable problem in the workplace"; in the US, the California Bar Association "says one in four lawyers who voluntarily enters drug rehabilitation programs is addicted to methamphetamines."

According to psychologist Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, there is a "curse of the capable," which is a "a complex web of emotions that drives people to hide their genuine needs behind a mask of over-achievement." He claims people often seek "...the "quick fix" of over-achievement to compensate for wounded self-esteem." As well, he states that "...chronically-overachieving people often don't realize unrecognized needs are driving them from the healing conditions necessary for fulfilled lives." He says that "...compulsive overachieving can stimulate production of dopamine"; however these "...temporary "lifts" will pass, triggering a spiraling non-fulfilling cycle of achievement and disappointment." He claims that "the drive for status to overcome psychological wounds generally leads to other problems such as poor nutrition, weight gain, excessive reliance on caffeine, alcohol or other harmful substances and sleep deprivation."