Technological progress has taken humanity to the moon, made self-driving cars possible — and even made it feasible to work from a kids’ play park.
Before smartphones, your workplace was where you communicated. Your phone and email lived at the office — and definitely not at Leo’s Lekland.
Today’s communication tools are incredible. But they’ve also paved the way for unsustainable collaboration, and the consequences can be costly.
So how does it actually affect you?
What is unsustainable collaboration?
Is it answering emails in the middle of the night?
Or working from Leo’s Lekland?
Both yes — and no.
Being constantly available isn’t necessarily the problem. Unsustainable collaboration is the result of a lack of structure, which often leads to stress and, in many cases, burnout.
It’s about balance — learning to use your phone without automatically checking work emails.
And it’s no surprise that we’ve reached record-high levels of workplace stress.
In one study, 44% of respondents said they experience stress at some point during the day.
The cost of unsustainable collaboration
Employee wellbeing has a massive impact on performance, absenteeism, and turnover. Burnout doesn’t just affect individuals — it costs companies real money.
Globally, burnout is estimated to cost $322 billion, according to Gallup.
The conclusion?
The cost of unsustainable collaboration is enormous — both for people and organizations.
The good news: Sustainable collaboration can help reduce stress and prevent burnout.
How to prevent unsustainable collaboration
I’m not here to be a doomsday preacher claiming everyone at your company is miserable.
But the statistics speak for themselves — and there’s a lot employers can do to make things better.
1. Talk about it — openly
Whether you’re an employee or a manager, start the conversation.
If you feel stressed — say it.
If you lead a team, make wellbeing and stress part of your regular check-ins and team discussions. Give employees space to shape workflows and routines that support mental health.
2. Set boundaries
A team should ideally be diverse — with different backgrounds, life situations, and work habits.
That’s why it’s important to set clear communication boundaries.
Some people are morning types. Others do school drop-offs and prefer working later.
No one should feel pressured by notifications at 07:30 or 19:14.
Instead of banning messages, try asynchronous communication — where everyone can reply when it suits them.
3. Create structure for projects
Projects involving multiple teams and deadlines can quickly become a stress factory.
Make sure your team has a clear and consistent way of working — with defined roles, timelines, and communication channels. Structure reduces chaos and helps everyone focus.
4. Provide the right digital tools
Even the best intentions won’t go far without the right tech.
A sustainable workflow requires a central hub for communication — one that minimizes endless email threads and brings conversations into searchable, organized chats.
Test, adapt, improve
Rome wasn’t built in a day — and neither will your sustainable collaboration strategy.
Run regular surveys to check in on employee wellbeing. Use that feedback to refine and improve how your teams work together.
In the end:
Technology can either drain or empower us.
By building structure, setting boundaries, and giving your people the right tools, you’ll create a culture where collaboration is sustainable — and where both employees and customers thrive.
