"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."
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Leadership Drill Playbook - Turn Quiet Burnout into Challenge‑Fuelled Momentum
posted in Built For Hard
Adam Kreek
Leadership Drill Playbook
3R Challenge‑Stress Ritual – Turn Quiet Burnout into Challenge‑Fuelled Momentum
Quiet burnout shows up as busy calendars and tired eyes. Modern work rewards hustle just when the job demands endurance, courage and crystal‑clear thinking. This one‑page playbook gives leaders a proven drill to convert latent stress into performance momentum—no budget approvals required.
Leadership Drill – 3R Challenge‑Stress Ritual
1. Reset – One intentional diaphragmatic breath before the toughest block to claim a pause between stimulus and response.
2. Rip – Sprint hard for 52 minutes of focused work (Pomodoro ×2) on the single most leverage‑rich task.
3. Recover – Mandatory 8‑minute walk or stretch, no screens, to down‑shift cortisol and prime the brain for the next rep.
Why it Works – Self‑Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan)
• Competence: Frame the drill as a skill to be mastered; track the percentage of sprints completed each week.
• Autonomy: Let individuals choose the task they ‘Rip’ on—ownership increases intrinsic drive.
• Relatedness: Open Monday stand‑ups with a quick share: one success from last week’s drill, one barrier to solve together.
Read more on our blog about
- Engineering Motivation and Applying Self-Determination Theory
- A Free Blog-Book on Motivational Theory and How It Applies To Your Next Leadership Breakthrough
Measure Momentum
• Weekly: percentage of team members hitting ≥ 2 full 3R cycles per day
• Monthly: Change in self‑reported energy (1‑10 scale) and deep‑work output (objective metric)
• Quarterly: Engagement survey items on ‘mental focus’ and ‘sense of progress’
Run the drill for two weeks, share the wins, and watch challenge‑fuelled momentum replace quiet burnout.
Click [HERE] for a downloadable PDF version of this playbook.
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Adam Kreek and the Built For Hard Team are on a mission to positively impact organizational cultures and leaders who make things happen.
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Kreek authored the bestselling business book, The Responsibility Ethic: 12 Strategies Exceptional People Use to Do the Work and Make Success Happen.
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