How “Surface Acting” Drains Leaders—and How to Break the Cycle

It’s Wednesday afternoon and you’re halfway through another exhausting day of putting out fires, holding endless meetings, and dealing with personnel issues you wish you didn’t have to deal with. It’s time for your next team meeting, where you’ll need to present a new company cost-cutting initiative. You have your own doubts but must deliver the missive to your team. As your emotional gas tank runs out, you can only manage feigned enthusiasm while being bombarded with questions about the implications of the new policy. Your half-hearted performance fails to inspire or create true connection, which means Thursday morning rolls around and you’re running on empty. With nothing left in your tank, you limped through the day trying to hide your frustration and forcing yourself to smile when necessary, thus starting the cycle again.