Sustainable High Performance - the quest for balanced work practices

Basic data for this project

Description

The demands of our times are manifold: The increased pace of change on the technological as well as social level features prominently in the academic and public debate. Information and communication technology supports a kind of social acceleration that manifests itself in an increased pace of work and heightened levels of competition. The impact of technology seems ambivalent. On the one hand ICT empowers employees to find and enact individual solutions to the demands of modern life. On the other hand, ICT burdens or forces employees to accommodate a culture of 24/7 responsiveness – constant availability to the needs of the company. So far research has been primarily concerned with understanding the root causes of why for a growing number of people the dark side of technology gains dominance. Conventional approaches seek to identify risk factors and understand their impact on wellbeing. Reducing people’s exposure to stressors is believed to safeguard their wellbeing. Our research program endeavours to reverse this perspective. We have found individuals who are thriving and delivering sustainable high performance even under demanding conditions. Like successful athletes in sport, these individuals succeed to find a balance between exertion - high performance – and periods of relaxation and regeneration. This research aims at understanding how high performers succeed to maintain their level of performance and to balance demands and periods of rest. On a theoretical level this research is in the tradition of salutogenesis. It calls for investigating the personal resources that allow some people to thrive despite being exposed to stressful situation. What allows them to cope so well with negative stress? How can they manage the hazards of life without requiring medical assistance?