Does working hard really make you a good person? | Azim Shariff

In this episode of the TED Business podcast, the concept of "effort moralization" is examined, where society equates hard work with moral worth, regardless of the results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff explains that while recognizing effort can help us choose trustworthy partners, it can also create harmful societal incentives. This mindset contributes to the rise of "bullshit jobs" and a culture of "workism," where people focus more on looking busy than on being productive, leading to burnout and wasted resources. The episode urges listeners to shift their perspective from valuing effort to prioritizing meaningful outcomes.