In fast-moving environments like China, founders are deeply familiar with JUAN (卷) — the pressure to move faster, work harder, and outperform others.
JUAN works.
Until it doesn’t.
During a recent leadership & culture workshop with EO Shanghai, a simple question sparked debate:
What actually helps people change their mind?
Some leaders said pressure and chaos force adaptation. They’re right — urgency can create fast change.
But research and experience point to something else:
High performance is not driven by pressure alone, but by psychology.
When leaders rely only on urgency:
- Decision-making speeds up
- Innovation narrows
- Attrition increases
The strongest insight from the session was simple:
Leaders don’t need to change people.
They need to create the conditions for people to change themselves.
Psychological safety doesn’t mean comfort.
It means clarity, trust, and effort over ego.
What Leaders Are Facing Today
In a group exercise, we asked:
“What is the mountain your team must climb in 2026?”
Some CEOs mentioned the forced switch from Microsoft tools to Feishu — necessary, but uncomfortable.
Others admitted their work plans were still chaotic and needed structure and clarity.
Under budget cuts and headcount reductions, many employees feel forced to “juan” just to survive.
Founders know JUAN well.
But most see it not as a strategy —
rather, as a form of helplessness under pressure.
Five Minutes That Changed the Mood
At the same time, we spent five minutes meditating together.
This became one of the most appreciated moments of the entire workshop.
Just a few minutes of silence helped leaders:
- Reset
- Regain clarity
- Recharge their attention
High performance is not only about doing more.
It is also about creating space to think better.
From JUAN to Sustainable High Performance
The future of leadership does not belong to those who push hardest.
It belongs to those who can design environments with:
- Psychological safety
- Clear structure
- Strong accountability
This is how high performance becomes sustainable.
Ready to Move Beyond JUAN Culture?
If you are a founder, CEO, or HR leader looking to build high-performing teams without burning out your people, our Leadership & Culture Workshop will help you:
- Create psychological safety
- Improve execution and clarity
- Lead sustainable performance
Join our next Leadership & Culture Workshop
Design high performance——without constant pressure.
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