Sleeplessness = Effectiveness?

Whether you think it's a form of justification for generous compensation or not, Wall Street's veneration for exhaustion has always perplexed me.

Bill Clinton, once said, "Every important mistake I've made in my life, I've made because I was too tired."

Sleeplessness is linked to diabetes, depression, obesity and even increased mortality. Which is why I find it strange when people talk about working absurdly long hours and being sleep deprived with such pride and admiration.

Karen Dillon, the editor of Harvard Business Review, writes about the Myth of the Tireless Leader. She argues that if anything, sleep deprivation renders you ineffective.

In managers, sleeplessness signals the inability to trust, delegate and perhaps most alarming of all, the inability or unwillingness to cultivate other effective managers.

It doesn't get any better with employees. In fact, the universal red flag for fraud is to have someone perpetually in the office. Which is exactly why most firms institute a compulsory two week compliance vacation.

By all means work hard, but let's not confuse the number of hours spent flapping around the office with effectiveness. If you're done with your work, GO HOME!