The first time I encountered someone who wore busyness like a badge of honor was in business school. It wasn’t just a way to describe their day—it was their identity. Every conversation seemed to circle back to how much they had on their plate, how many meetings they were juggling, or how little sleep they were getting. At first, it seemed like a strange quirk of the environment, but as I moved into the corporate world, I realized this wasn’t an isolated phenomenon. Busyness had become the ultimate status symbol.

In the corporate workplace, busyness is often mistaken for productivity. You see it everywhere: people darting from meeting to meeting, juggling multiple projects, and responding to emails at all hours. There’s a pervasive sense that if you’re not busy, you’re not important. But what does this busyness really signify?

More often than not, it’s a sign of inefficiency. Companies that prize busyness tend to focus more on the appearance of work rather than its substance. Employees spend countless hours in meetings that accomplish little, draft emails that add more noise than value, and chase tasks that have no real impact. The result is a culture where activity is mistaken for achievement, and where the most visible contributors are often the least effective.

For individuals, wearing busyness as a badge of honor can be a way to mask insecurity. It’s easier to say “I’m busy” than to admit “I’m not sure what to prioritize.” It’s a way to signal that you’re in demand, that your time is valuable. But in reality, it often reflects a lack of clarity, focus, and purpose. When busyness becomes a substitute for meaningful work, it’s a red flag that something is wrong.

At a deeper level, companies that embrace a culture of busyness are usually missing the point. They may see it as a sign of a strong work ethic, but what they’re really fostering is burnout and disengagement. When employees are constantly busy, they don’t have the space to think creatively, to solve problems effectively, or to connect with their work on a deeper level. Instead of driving productivity, busyness stifles it.

The alternative is a culture that values outcomes over output, effectiveness over activity. It’s about creating systems that allow people to focus on what really matters, to work smarter, not harder. It’s about recognizing that the best work often comes from a place of calm, not chaos. 

So the next time you find yourself tempted to boast about how busy you are, take a step back. Ask yourself what that busyness is really achieving. Is it driving the results you want, or is it just keeping you in motion? The answer might surprise you. Because in the end, it’s not about how much you do—it’s about what you accomplish. And that’s the only badge worth wearing.