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Being busy isn't always a bad thing, but when people are "so busy being busy" they never stop to consider where they're going, they end up wasting time and energy that could be better spent, a career development and leadership expert warns.

In her new book Less Hustle, More Happy, Claire Seeber says to overcome disengagement and reduce the risk of burnout, employers must focus more on happiness and human connection, and less on busyness and hustle.

Hustle culture is everywhere, Seeber tells HR Daily. It's become the norm for employees to do "more and more and more and more" without ever really stopping to ask why they're doing it and whether it's achieving desired outcomes – let alone whether it's fuelling any personal joy or fulfilment.

"You only have to walk the floor of an organisation and listen for 25 seconds to hear that," she says. The conversation is usually along the lines of, "How you going?", "I'm so busy right now, what about you?", which prompts a similar response...