I used to have a star employee, who I, and other senior leaders, kept adding more and more to his plate, but he was such a strong performer — he ensured things were done well, and on time. I used to half-jokingly comment that he was a victim of his own competence.

In some organizations, this can result in a horrible culture where a ridiculously small number of people do most of the organization’s work. It also can result in unexpected bad behavior, like this great Calvin & Hobbes strip:

There’s a related adage of “If You Want Something Done, Ask a Busy Person To Do It.”

Recommendations:

• If you’re a leader of a star employee, protect their plate/priorities so you don’t crush them.

• If you’re a star employee, set boundaries on how much you want to work (maybe you’re in a chapter of life where you want to take on a huge amount, and try to earn a big promotion; but be careful not to burn yourself out when you were already getting an A+ in your reputation at work).