I came across an article in Inc. recently by Kit Eaton: “How to Fight Clock Botching, the Latest Threat to Productivity” (published August 13, 2025). Up until then, I’d never heard the phrase clock botching before.

I know of clock watching. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. That’s the “please-let-this-day-end” routine where the only thing moving slower than me is time itself.

This new phrase—clock botching—points to something deeper.

Clock watching is obvious. You’re disengaged, bored, counting down the hours until you can leave work or or shut down everything, if you’re working for yourself.

Clock botching is different. You’re at your desk, in the meeting, logged on. Outwardly, you look busy. Inwardly, you’re gone. Tasks that should take 30 minutes stretch to three hours. You’re in motion but not producing much. It’s a form of checking out that’s harder to spot.

This “tuning out” doesn’t happen for no reason. Some of the most common are:

• Emotional fatigue – running on fumes, no reserves left.
• Burnout – not a crash, but a slow simmer where even small things feel heavy.
• Disconnection – from purpose, from team, from the why of your work.
• Culture of visibility over output – where looking busy is rewarded more than creating meaningful results.

When you know who you are—your Zone of Genius, your motivations, your “why”—you’re far less likely to tune out.

Alignment doesn’t erase fatigue, but it does give you the awareness to spot misalignment quickly. Instead of drifting, you can make intentional choices that bring you back to clarity, purpose, and productivity.

The Inc. article pointed out that fighting clock botching isn’t about piling on more hours or hustling harder. It’s about creating conditions where people can be present. A few things stood out:

• Encouraging real rest: leaders actively urging employees to take breaks and use vacation time.
• Talking openly about mental health: normalizing those conversations so fatigue doesn’t stay hidden.
• Focusing on output over optics: shifting the culture away from “always on” visibility toward meaningful results.
• Rebuilding connection: with colleagues, with purpose, with the work itself.

That’s where alignment overlaps beautifully. These aren’t just “HR fixes.” They are alignment practices—choosing to work in ways that honor who you are, how you function best, and what actually drives results.

Dan Rockwell talks about not glossing over how we really feel about things that happen to us during the course of any day. I believe that detachment could eventually lead us to clock botch if we aren’t careful. Dan recommends:

• Reality is better than fantasy. Don’t fake calmness. Be honest. Be specific.
• Instead of saying, “I’m stressed,” try “I’m frustrated because things feel out of control,” or “I’m disappointed in how that conversation went.”
• Don’t say you feel “bad” when you feel disrespected. Name it. Dealing with generic bad feelings is different from facing disrespect.

When you stand up for yourself, you see yourself clearly. You don’t sweep things under the rug while slowly shrinking yourself, losing the very raison d’être of your life and work.

Strategic Alignment Prompt

Where in your work are you showing up physically but not fully present? What might that be telling you about your current alignment?

If you’re curious about what your own tuning out moments are revealing, let’s talk. A Clarity Conversation™ may be exactly the space you need to reconnect with your purpose and direction.