There was a lot of feedback on the previous article on burnout, some readers asked really pertinent questions that will be addressed in a dedicated article as we finish off this subject. One particularly interesting point that came up was around the issue of disclosing to your leadership and/or team that you are experiencing burnout, especially if the working environment is already toxic and relationships fragile. How can an executive admit to burnout without appearing ‘lazy’, ‘incapable’ and without hurting his or her reputation and career? Laughing to myself as I write this because as tempting as it is to offer suggestions, my considered opinion is, that discussion needs to happen in a coaching session.
However, what I can offer here are a few general steps you can consider as part of your strategy to manage your burnout experience. Remember to start small and move with self-compassion.
1. Concentrate on what you can control
What you can control sometimes seems easier when you’re thinking about it, for instance you may think you can control your pattern of delivery so you can ease pressure on yourself, but when you look closer you realize that in fact you have to deliver in a certain way because your inputs arrive like that or your outputs are required like that. That limitation is acknowledged. The point is for you to find what it is that you can influence in your working space to reduce your stress to manageable levels.
One of the teams I worked with that has agreed that I share their experience with you identified themselves as a leaderless team because their CEO (who is also the business owner) was disengaged, so although they were very competitively remunerated and passionate about their work, they shared a common frustration of the ambiguity that comes with having an absent leader. This team needed better direction and coordination. They focused on getting a Procedures Manual signed off and effected so that they could run their functions according to the authority levels imparted by that document. That, plus the WhatsApp group they created for themselves, went a long way in alleviating their issues.
2. Build in relaxation
You simply have to make time for fun. Being adult, professional and responsible does not exclude having fun. Take breaks to manage fatigue. Find something that gladdens your heart and lifts your mood and build that into your daily or weekly routine.
3. Boundaries!
You have to set boundaries. It used to look like you’re being very responsible and very busy when you took work home. Actually that could just suggest you’re inefficient. So establish limits on your work hours. Let work time and personal time be clearly demarcated. And if you have to blur the lines, let it be something you are deliberately and consciously choosing to allow.
Of course burnout can sometimes be because you feel inadequately rewarded for your efforts, whether that reward is in terms of remuneration or in terms of progression. In that case, the three suggestions above would not be of much use to you because you may be thinking about finding a different place of work where you will be properly recognized. Whether that different place of work means moving to a new department in the same organization or changing employers, you still need to do a proper assessment of your options to ensure your expectations are realistic. Remember, burnout is real but it can be managed.
