How Lack of Sleep Negatively Impacts Relationships

Leaders that are supportive are aware of and sensitive to the feelings of others (McKinsey). They motivate and help colleagues overcome problems by demonstrating honesty and genuine interest in those around them.

All of these actions are aided by sleep, which reduces activity in the amygdala (the subcortical brain structure responsible for emotional processing) in response to previously experienced emotional stimuli. Simply put, sleep clears your mind of the tensions of the day before, allowing you to better focus on helping others.

Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, makes it nearly impossible to help others. For starters, you’ve probably felt angry after a bad night’s sleep. 

Sleep deprivation impairs your capacity to maintain self-control and makes you more inclined to overreact, expressing your emotions in a more unpleasant manner and tone of voice. Sleep deprivation also makes it harder to read other people’s emotions, whether through facial expressions or voice tone. It’s difficult to create trust and respond with empathy when you don’t get enough sleep.

Christopher Barnes, an organisational behaviour researcher, conducted a two-week survey of 88 leaders and their workers and discovered that when bosses slept badly, they were more likely to engage in abusive behaviour the next day.

(Research: Your Abusive Boss Is Probably an Insomniac)

In keeping with our human inability to evaluate how sleep deprived we are, managers may be similarly unaware of how their sleep-deficient behaviour is affecting relationships with their subordinates, according to a study. Barnes conducted a further study in which he monitored the sleep patterns of 40 managers and their 120 direct reports throughout the first three months of their assigned time together, as well as the quality of their boss-employee interactions.

Sleep-deprived leaders were more impatient, irritated, and aggressive, resulting in strained relationships, according to his team. The researchers expected this impact to fade away as people became more acquainted, but it did not. Worst of all, these drowsy leaders were utterly oblivious to the unfavourable dynamic that continued throughout the three-month trial.

Lack of Sleep Deteriorates Your Ability to Inspire Your Team

Aside from patience and a level head, another important aspect of helping your team is encouraging them, especially during difficult times. It’s concerning, though, because in one study, leaders’ perceived charisma plummeted by 13% when they lost just two hours of sleep. 

Why?

Direct reports feel pleased and consider their employers as charismatic when they see their leaders displaying positive emotion.

All leadership conduct is known to rely on at least one (and typically more than one) of these executive functions, and thus on the prefrontal cortex in particular. Scientists have discovered that while other parts of the brain can manage with less sleep, the prefrontal cortex cannot.

Basic visual and motor skills deteriorate when people are deprived of sleep, but not nearly to the same extent as higher-order mental skills.

Lack of Sleep Reflects in Your Leadership

Leaders who undervalue the need for sleep can have a negative impact on their teams’ emotions as well as their behaviour. “The emotional dysfunction experienced by sleep-deprived individuals can be ‘transmitted’ to well-rested persons who come into contact with an under-slept individual,” Barnes says.

Remember Barnes’ study of 88 bosses and their subordinates? With the supervisors’ harsh behaviour came a lack of participation from their teams, which was not entirely surprising.

However, through what Barnes refers to as “sleep devaluation,” leaders can indirectly undermine team performance. 

Consider a scenario in which a boss brags about obtaining only a few hours of sleep, sends work emails in the middle of the night, or praises workers who work late nights. Employees are aware of these signals and adjust their conduct as a result. 

Subordinates of leaders who model and encourage poor sleeping habits receive roughly 25 minutes less sleep per night than those whose bosses appreciate sleep. They also claim that the quality of their sleep has deteriorated.

This is a significant problem with cascading repercussions. We’ve already explored how devastating untreated sleep debt can be to your direct reports’ focus and productivity.

An even more concerning twist is that a manager’s disregard for sleep might lead to staff behaving unethically, possibly as a result of what appears to be a high-pressure work environment, as well as impaired moral judgement and decision-making. Barnes’ earlier research has revealed that a lack of sleep is strongly linked to ethical failures.

Pass on these tips because getting adequate sleep is just as important for you as it is for your team. Also, keep in mind that your coworkers are watching you for clues about what’s essential in the office. Stop wearing sleep deprivation as a badge of honour, and if you absolutely must send a late-night email, use a delayed-delivery option to at least model good behaviour for your colleagues. 

If you sleep less, you can surely fit in more job, hobby, friend, or relationship hours, but at what cost? A drop in the quality of your job, your emotional capacity, and your leadership skills.

You can also get help from a Health and Wellness Coach to build a better lifestyle for yourself. 

Tips from a Wellness Coach to Get Enough Sleep

Don’t rely on caffeine and sweets to get you through the day. To get a good night’s sleep, follow these simple steps:

1. Avoid sleeping during the day hours. If you must nap while the sun is up, limit yourself to 30 minutes or less and do so early in the day.
2. Establish a soothing pre-bedtime ritual. Brush your teeth, read a book, and perform some gentle stretches. Whatever you do, make it a habit to do the same thing every night.
3. Large late-night meals should be avoided. You can feel restless if you eat a lot before going to bed.
4. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoke should all be avoided. Using any of these right before night can make it difficult to fall asleep. If you smoke, give it up for the sake of your health.
5. Make the water bottle your best friend. Staying hydrated is important, but drinking a lot of water before bed may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
6. Consistency is key. Even on weekends, get up and go to bed at the same hour every day.
7. Make your bedroom sleep-friendly. Before you call it a night, take a look around. Any lights should be dimmed or turned off. Turn off any gadgets with a screen. Turn a bright clock away from you if you have one at your bedside. Also, to hide any distracting noises, use a white-noise app or other calming sounds.