The torque of your career

When I passed the entrance exam to attend a public university for my undergraduate degree, my father gave me a car: a 1970 Beetle that I would need to oversee the restoration before driving it. I spent six months following the entire process of mechanical, bodywork, electrical, and suspension restoration of my Beetle and learning about the mechanics of various other cars at a family friend's workshop.

“Mr. Tarcísio”, the owner of the workshop, taught me about the cylinder head stud bolt that had just arrived from the reconditioning shop.

“- If you tighten it with excessive torque, the thread can strip, causing mechanical failures and loss of compression. If a cylinder head bolt is loose, fluid leakage and overheating will occur as a result of the compromised heat exchange system.”

This was one of the lessons I carried from “Mr. Tarcísio” to the corporate world about pressure in the workplace. Excessive pressure will wear out your team, which will likely suffer from decreased productivity and serious mental health issues, such as burnout and panic syndrome. Lack of pressure will equally compromise a team's results, leading to difficulties in meeting deadlines and achieving goals.

The synchronised movement of a cylinder head requires adjusted pressure, which generally has the torque defined by the engine manufacturer. In the corporate environment, the "torque" is defined by the leadership that needs to have the proper sensitivity to achieve this fine adjustment of pressure. Leaders with excellence in finding this balance point will be references for people, companies, and clients.

If your leadership struggles to find this point, be your own leader of your torque, find your perfect balance of efficiency and productivity, and thrive in your career.