When Sleepy Becomes Grumpy

We all know the effects of being physically tired.  A lack of sleep can make us drowsy, inattentive, or even downright cranky.  Still, many people think with enough coffee, they can make it through a workday “normally” after a sleepless night.  We all like to believe that we have a public, professional persona that allows us to overcome personal issues and always bring our “best selves” to work. 

But recent research* indicates that, even though supervisors aren’t aware of it themselves, their lack of sleep has a negative impact on how they interact with subordinates.  Researchers confirmed when managers don’t get enough sleep, their subordinates suffer the following day.  In the study, bosses reported how well they slept the night before.  While the bosses were convinced they acted the same every day, their employees noted a marked change in managerial style when the person in charge hadn’t slept well.

 So consider:

1-Quality matters more than quantity.
This study found the quality of sleep mattered more than the amount of time someone spent in bed.  Waking up during the night and sleeping fitfully had a more negative effect on supervisors’ work behaviors than sleeping soundly for fewer hours.  When the leader reported that his/her sleep had been interrupted, subordinates reported higher incidents of abusive supervision the following day.  In fact, following a night of poor supervisor sleep, the entire work group reported less satisfaction with the days’ work and less emotional commitment to the organization. 

2-Think about better sleep for everyone.
This study reinforces the importance of restful, uninterrupted sleep.  Companies could benefit from providing classes in stress reduction, promoting physical fitness, or even subsidizing evening yoga classes. 

And finally,

 3-You’re not fooling anyone.
Go ahead and have the second cup of coffee if you didn’t sleep well the night before.  But being aware your lack of sleep can have a profound effect on your work group is important.  We all have the occasional sleepless night.  It’s up to you to take extra care the next day to make sure your employees don’t suffer for your lack of sleep.

*Barnes, C. M., Lucianetti, L., Bhave, D. P., & Christian, M. S. (2015).  You wouldn’t like me when I’m sleepy: Leaders’ sleep, daily abusive supervision, and work unit engagement.  Academy of Management Journal, 58, 1419-1437.