There’s a Proven Link Between Effective Leadership and Getting Enough Sleep

February 16, 2016

Kenneth Andersson FOR HBR

In our hyper-connected, 24/7 world, many of us are losing sleep — literally. Our own survey of more than 180 business leaders found that four out of 10 (43%) say they do not get enough sleep at least four nights a week. Such sleep deficiencies can undermine important forms of leadership behavior and eventually hurt financial performance. This article will explore the link between sleep and leadership before discussing solutions that can improve both individual well-being and organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Nick van Dam is McKinsey’s global chief learning officer, a principal in its Amsterdam office, and a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and Nyenrode Business University. He’s also the author of You! The positive force in change.

Els van der Helm is a sleep expert and founder of Shleep, the sleep company. Shleep serves corporate clients around the world and helps improve their health, performance, and happiness through digital training, personalized assessments, sleep education through tailored workshops, sleep coaching, and policy recommendations. Prior to founding Shleep, Els worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. She has authored peer-reviewed articles and book chapters based on her sleep research at both Harvard Medical School and the University of California, Berkeley, where she received her doctorate in psychology. Follow her on Twitter: @elsonsleep