What do you do if you're experiencing burnout as a leader?

It's vital to catch burnout if you're a leader. Something not mentioned in this article is checking in on those whom you lead. We tend to martyr ourselves for our staff or volunteers, but unfortunately, if you're burning out, then your staff is probably on fire too. When you become aware of it, take whatever time you can to step back, and find tangible tools that both you and your staff can use to relieve some of the stress. If it's an important deadline, even five minutes outside can reset your nervous system, and help you get things done.

Leaders begin by acknowledging and accepting their feelings of burnout, recognizing it as a signal that change is needed. Through self-reflection, they identify specific factors contributing to burnout, such as excessive workload or lack of work-life balance.

Lack of restful & uninterrupted sleep, a broad lack of drive, absence of quiet time spent alone as well as a belief that everything needs your constant attention..... all of these are red flags on the slippery slope of burnout down the road. A strong sense of achievement, association or going after power can put leaders in automatic mode that leads to burnout. I was going from one office building to the next, and saw a senior leader sitting at the steps. It was uncanny for the time of the day, so I stopped to ask if was okay. He just smiled back and said, "sometimes one has to stop and think where one is headed." I thought that was a rare example of a lead being self-aware of his own red flags.

We will be in our bodies far longer than any role. Let's be mindful about what we are sacrificing for short-term "wins." If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are two simple guidelines to get you started: 1) Get outside 2) Do more things that make you forget to check your phone

Health is an individual need. The most common way health gets ignored is by constantly focusing on needs of others - team members, clients, family members, friends and so on. And it seems justifiable that in the roles we are in, we must focus on helping or addressing other's needs. The impact is saying "no" to our needs & "yes" to everything & everyone else. So, if burnout needs to be checked, focus on our own needs is important. Health isn't exercise alone. It could be watching TV or movies with loved ones, meeting and chatting over lunch with friends, perhaps even indulging in mindless banter or harmless gossip. The aim, is to, unload mentally.

Stress is generated when we operate in an intense mode all the time. It is an aftereffect of "continuous state of heightened alertness!" Constant need to perform can put us in such a state. We forget to notice times where we don't need to be alert. In sports, there are moments when there is a break in play. In tennis, it's between points, for example. Elite athletes learn to switch on alertness and focus when the point/play is about to commence. And they learn how to switch off as soon as the point is over. This deescalates stress and regulates our energy, focus & alertness only as per the situation. Leadas looking to beat burnout must learn how to switch on and off one's alert state as the situation demands.

Leaders reach out to trusted colleagues, mentors, or professional coaches for support and guidance. Having a supportive network provides perspective, validation, and practical strategies for coping with burnout.

A tricky thing for a leader is to let go of the importance they experience while in a leadership position. Leaders take on this unnecessary persona that they must know everything. And that proves to be the undoing for many leaders that puts them firmly on the path of burnout. "I don't know" or "I need help" are possibly the most common phrases that a leader hates to express. How will I be seen as a leader if I don't know or need help? But saying these 2 things can ease off a lot of unwanted things a leader may have added to their already full plate. It gets others used to you seeking support. This way you let others take care of things because you cannot possibly get everything done yourself. So next time, don't fret, just ask for help.

Gerade wenn der K?rper einem Signale gibt wie eine Ersch?pfung ist es zentral, sich zu fragen, nach welchen Werten das berufliche Leben neu ausgerichtet werden soll. Was sind die Werte, die neu meine T?tigkeit jeden Tag leiten soll. Für was m?chte ich stehen und wie kann ich meine Gesundheit als einen Teil priorisieren. Was m?chte ich kurz- und langfristig erreichen? Gerade in einer Krisensituation ist es wichtig, sich zu fragen, für was ich jeden morgen aufstehe? Wie grenze ich mich auch gut ab. Das sind für mich sehr wichtige Fragen, um wirklich gesund und erfüllt im Berufsleben weiter zu agieren.

Reset your boundaries especially how you are spending your time, understand what is in your control and include new learnings/experiences from your failure as part of your win ratios. ??

Prioritizing self-care involves leaders setting boundaries around their time, energy, and responsibilities. This may include delegating tasks, declining additional commitments, and carving out time for rest and rejuvenation.