The most effective teams aren't built on sacrificed weekends

"Good employees should care about my company as much as I do."

Many leaders especially founders can buy into this idea.

Every day on LinkedIn you can find one complaining about it.

Here's what their belief translates to, they think that:

- Dedicated employees work weekends without complaint.

- Committed team members are always available.

- The best people treat the company like their own.

- Setting boundaries means lacking dedication.

This belief persists because:

- Some of the top CEOs seem to preach 80 hour weeks.

- If they say it, then it starts to feel like common sense.

- It seems to separate the "committed" from the rest.

- It gets normalized as the "hustle culture" tribe.

But here's the truth:

Expecting equal emotional investment from employees is like expecting a nanny to love your child as much as you do.

It's not just unrealistic. It's counterproductive.

Here's what this myth actually creates:

- Burnout masked as dedication.

- Performance theater (first in, last out?) instead of productivity.

- High turnover of talented people.

- Cultures of guilt and resentment.

But then what drives real sustainable performance?

- Clear boundaries between work and life.

- Focus on results, not hours logged.

- Respect for personal time.

- Professional commitment without emotional sacrifice.

The most effective teams aren't built on sacrificed weekends. They're built on sustainable expectations.

Remember, you don't need people to care as much as you do.

You need people who care enough to do great work.

That's not just enough. That's optimal.

What leadership myth have you had to unlearn?