35. When Working Harder Is the Laziest Option
Working harder is often praised in finance.
Long hours with fast turnarounds.Or stepping in to “just get it done.”
It looks committed and feels responsible. And in the short term, it works.
But over time, working harder is sometimes the laziest option available to a leader.
Why Effort Is the Default Response
When pressure rises, effort is accessible.
You can stay later.
You can review one more file.
You can personally close the gap.
These actions create immediate relief and progress is visible.
Leverage, by contrast, is slower. It requires thinking, redesign, and restraint. It often delays relief before creating it.
So leaders choose effort. Because effort feels useful right now.
The Finance Version of This Trap
In finance, this shows up often.
The control is weak, so a senior leader adds an extra layer of review.
A team is stretched, so the leader gets involved in operational decisions.
A process is unclear, so exceptions are handled manually.
From the outside, this looks like strong leadership because it solves the pressing issues.
From the inside, it reveals a growing dependency.
Why Effort Feels Safer Than Leverage
Effort keeps leaders in control, and shows that they are doing something.
It avoids challenging structures that no longer fit and conversations about capacity and trust.
Leverage requires admitting that the system has a problem.
That admission is uncomfortable, especially for leaders who helped build the system in the first place so effort becomes their default. It’s hard to replace someone who tries to make themself an essential part of the process, even though systems can be designed to do what they do.
The Hidden Cost of Choosing Effort
Effort does not scale.
Every time a leader steps in, they reduce pressure today and increase it tomorrow. The organisation learns to wait and escalation becomes the path of least resistance.
Over time, leaders become the system which is exhausting, and risky.
An audit does not flag this as a finding but the risk shows up in over-centralised decisions, weak internal controls, and leaders who cannot step away without things slowing down.
Leverage Is Distance
Leverage does not mean disengaging.It means redesigning so the right work happens without the unsustainable long hours.
In finance, leverage is embedded in how we think. We automate reconciliation rather than reviewing manually forever. We standardise reporting so insight does not depend on one person.
Leadership should work the same way.
A Question That Changed How I Lead
The question I now ask myself is simple:
Am I solving this, or am I absorbing it?
If the same issue requires my effort repeatedly, it shows a leverage problem.
Why Leverage Feels Slower at First
Leverage requires some upfront discomfort.
Processes need to be rethought.
Decisions need to be clarified.
People need to be trusted before they feel ready.
But once leverage is in place, effort drops permanently and leverage compounds.
What This Means for Finance Leaders
Finance leaders are often valued for their reliability. The danger is becoming indispensable.
The strongest finance functions I’ve worked with are the ones where work continues smoothly without constant senior intervention.
That is sustainable stewardship.
Closing
Working harder is sometimes just working around the real issue.
Effort feels virtuous and leverage feels uncomfortable but only one reduces future work.
If you find yourself consistently stepping in to keep things moving, it may be worth asking whether effort has replaced design.
The laziest (and unsustainable) option is doing the same hard work again tomorrow.
That’s all for this week.
See you on Tuesday!
– Jonathan
P.S. Finance leaders are often rewarded for absorbing pressure. Over time, that becomes a trap. If you’ve been carrying more than the system should require, a thoughtful conversation can help identify where leverage would quietly do the work instead. Reach out to me - I’ll guide you.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended for general informational and reflective purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Please consider your own circumstances and consult an appropriate professional before making decisions.
