What do you do if your company culture is causing burnout among network engineers?

1 Identify the causes

In order to deal with burnout, it is necessary to understand the causes. Network engineers may face high workloads and tight deadlines, lack of recognition and feedback, poor communication and collaboration, unrealistic expectations and scope creep, constant change and uncertainty, lack of autonomy and control, insufficient training and resources, low pay and benefits, or conflict and politics. These factors may be related to a particular role, project, or team; however, some may be part of the company culture as a whole. It is important to identify which factors are most influential in regards to motivation, satisfaction, and well-being.

2 Recognize the signs

Recognizing the signs of burnout is the second step to dealing with it. Burnout is a state of chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can have serious consequences for one's health and happiness. Network engineers may notice a loss of interest and passion in their work, decreased productivity and quality, increased errors and mistakes, difficulty concentrating or solving problems, irritability or frustration, anxiety or depression, insomnia or fatigue, headaches or muscle pain, low immunity or frequent illness, or isolation and withdrawal. If any of these signs are present in yourself or your colleagues, it is important to take action before they get worse.

3 Seek support

The third step to deal with burnout is to seek support from others who can help you cope. You don't have to go through it alone, and there are many sources of support available. You can discuss your situation with your manager and HR, and ask for their help in reducing your workload, adjusting deadlines, providing feedback, resolving conflicts, or offering training and resources. Additionally, you can reach out to your colleagues and peers who may be facing similar challenges. Collaborating with them on projects or tasks can provide valuable advice, feedback, and assistance. Moreover, speaking to family and friends about your work-related stress can provide emotional support, understanding, and encouragement. Furthermore, mentors and coaches can offer guidance and advice on developing your skills in network engineering. Finally, counselors and therapists can help you cope with burnout symptoms such as anxiety or depression.

4 Make changes

The fourth step to deal with burnout is to make changes in your work environment, habits, and lifestyle that can help you prevent or recover from it. You can adjust your work environment to be more comfortable, organized, and productive by adjusting lighting, temperature, noise, and ergonomics. Additionally, set boundaries and limits on work hours, availability, and interruptions while avoiding multitasking, overcommitting, or procrastinating. Utilize tools and technologies that can automate, streamline, or simplify your work processes and tasks. As for your work habits, prioritize tasks, set SMART goals, plan time, track progress, and review results. Delegate or outsource tasks that are not essential or enjoyable. Seek feedback while learning new skills and challenging yourself. Celebrate achievements. Finally, take care of physical, mental, and emotional well-being by eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping enough (avoiding alcohol/tobacco/drugs), taking breaks/relaxing/meditating/journaling as well as pursuing hobbies/interests/passions and connecting with family/friends/community.

5 Explore options

The fifth step to deal with burnout is to explore options that can help you find a better fit for your skills, interests, and values. It may be that burnout is a sign that you are not content in your current role, project, team, or company and need a change. To this end, you can switch roles or projects within your company to something more tailored to your skillset, values, and interests. You could also ask for more variety, flexibility, or autonomy in your work assignments and responsibilities. Additionally, you could look into changing teams or departments with a better culture, communication, or collaboration. If all else fails, you can search for opportunities outside of your current company that may offer a better fit for your skills, interests and values. This could include a better culture, work environment, benefits package or reputation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?