Never Let Your Teams Get Burnt Out Again

There was a time in my life where I used to think burnouts were just a fancy term for having a bad day at work. It wasn't until later in my career, with responsibilities piling up, that I realised something was off. I began to notice periods of mental fog, feeling lethargic, and irritable.

My productivity dipped, and I just couldn't seem to get back on track. Then, a chat with a friend opened my eyes – I was experiencing burnout. I was constantly swamped with work, and the situation slowly affected my behaviour, and also, my performance.

Let's face it, burnouts are real and they're more common than we think. They silently creep up on us, impacting our wellbeing at work. In this piece, I will share what burnouts are, their signs, causes, and how you can dodge them effectively.

What are Burnouts?

First, let’s break down what burnouts actually are. The World Health Organization (WHO) doesn’t label burnouts as a medical condition, but rather an "Occupational Phenomenon". They're marked by:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion.

• Increased mental distance from one's job, or feelings of negativity or cynicism related to one's job.

• Reduced professional efficacy.

Basically, burnouts are tied to workplace challenges that drastically affect your performance and approach to work.

Warning Signs of Burnouts

Burnouts don’t happen overnight. They’re more of a slow burn. Gradually building up, while leaving subtle clues along the way. And from my experience, the symptoms can easily be disregarded for something else when you don’t know what to look for.

Recognising these signs can be challenging, but it's essential. Here are some common indicators:

• Constant Tiredness: Unlike normal tiredness, this is a constant, unshakable fatigue that affects how you work and collaborate.

• Struggle to Focus: This is when you found yourself repeatedly unable to perform even basic tasks or make decisions at work.

• Increased Social Anxiety: Everyday interactions like meetings or chatting with colleagues start feeling like big tasks.

• Emotional Fluctuations: You become more irritable, detached, or cynical than usual.

• Physical Symptoms: Burnout can manifest physically with headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension, often not linked to any specific illness.

• Drop in Performance: If you're missing deadlines or making more errors than usual, it could also be a sign.

Causes of Burnouts

A major cause for burnouts is being overworked from having a high workload, which leads to a high-pressure & stressful workplace. More common causes relating to these situations are:

• Unclear Priorities: With no clear priority, your team is constantly putting out fires, trying to get everything done. This causes high workloads and stressful environment.

• Ambiguous Roles: Lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities can cause confusion and tension among team members.

• Lack of Control: Feeling powerless over work-related decisions can be a significant source of frustration and stress.

• Lack of Leadership Support: Poor leader support can cause your team to feel stranded. This leads to a stressful and demotivating work environment for your teams.

• Communication Breakdowns: Misunderstandings and unclear directives can result in errors and heightened workplace pressure.

• Isolation: Feeling disconnected or unsupported by colleagues can amplify stress and contribute to burnout.

How to Prevent Burnouts

Now that you understand what burnouts are and what cause them, here are eight practical methods to prevent it:

1. Spot Early Signs

One of the key factors in preventing burnouts is spotting the early signs. Keep a close eye on your team members and watch for subtle changes in their behavior. Are they consistently exhausted, withdrawn from colleagues, or less engaged in their work?

Open communication is crucial here. Create a space where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and challenges without holding back. Early detection allows you to take action before the symptoms worsen.

2. Simplify Your Work Process

Complex work processes can be a major source of frustration within a team. To boost efficiency and reduce stress, streamline your workflows wherever possible.

Having an agreed-upon, regular pattern of work greatly supports your teams in working together effectively. It promotes predictability and reliability, leading to improved team performance.

3. Clarify Roles & Accountabilities

Ensure that everyone on your team has a shared understanding of roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. This clarity is often overlooked but is essential for effective teamwork.

Without it, teams risk stumbling into misunderstandings and conflicts, leading to high-pressure environments. When everyone knows what's expected of them, they can work together more efficiently and effectively.

4. Share Your Priorities

Define clear goals and priorities for your team and share them openly. This clarity will naturally help filter down your team's workload, allowing them to focus on high-value tasks.

This, in turn, reduces the pressure of juggling multiple tasks simultaneously and helps prioritise work that brings the most value.

5. Break Down Large Tasks

Big tasks can be overwhelming and slow to complete. To increase clarity, make it a habit to break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks.

Smaller tasks are easier to understand and quicker to complete, giving your team the confidence and momentum they need to tackle the work as a whole.

6. Encourage Autonomy

Empower your team by giving them the autonomy to figure out how to complete their work. Trust is key here.

Allowing your team members to take ownership of their tasks naturally reduces pressure and increases their motivation to deliver exceptional work.

7. Have Frequent, Open Communication

Support and connection are vital for reducing team pressure. Encourage regular and open discussions within your team. Involve them in co-creating solutions to problems.

This not only makes team members feel accepted and heard but also deepens the bond within the team. Stronger connections lead to higher engagement and better results.

8. Support Your Team's Growth

Invest in your team's growth and resilience. Provide access to learning and coaching opportunities that help them become self-sufficient.

When your team can depend on each other to tackle big goals, the pressure decreases, and the potential for success increases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, preventing burnouts and building high-performing teams is achievable through observing common symptoms, and actively taking the actions to prevent them from happening.

By spotting early signs, simplifying processes, clarifying roles, and fostering open communication, you can create an environment where your team can thrive. Encourage autonomy, support growth, and watch your team achieve bigger goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

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