Push limits before setting limits.
Over-commitment is inevitable for aspirational leaders.
“…only those who will wish to go too far can possibly find out just how far one can go.” T.S. Eliot
Manage excess; don’t avoid it.
Don’t say you need “me” time until you’ve worked up a sweat.
Serving others brings opportunities that exceed time, energy, and ability. You regularly swing in and out of overload. Don’t maintain balance before you’ve experienced imbalance. Don’t limit yourself.
Doing too much isn’t failure. It’s ambition in motion. Grow through it.
Self-Awareness from Over-Commitment
You learn what you can do when you’re in over your head, not by paddling in the shallow end.
Overload is a mirror. Sometimes it shows your big heart. Other times, it reveals your craving to please.
You discover what matters when important things go undone.
5 Benefits of Over-Commitment
- Doing too much reveals how much you can do.
- Challenges reveal untapped strengths.
- Fatigue exposes wasted energy.
- Serving everyone is ridiculous. You learn to choose who to serve.
- Saying “no” becomes easier after too many “yeses.”
Refinement begins when generous excess demands self-reflection. Over-commitment is a crucible. Don’t waste the heat. Practice structured self-reflection.
What has stretching too far taught you?
See the devastation of one leader’s lack self-awareness. Read: The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership. You’ll see yourself in the story. Learn how one leader learned that self-reflection in isolation leads to self-deception.
Keep Learning: The Truth About Growth Opportunities