What do you do if you're a Sales Engineer facing burnout?

From personal experience, once you recognize burnout you need to have a conversation with your manager for support and mentoring. Arrange some time off and in that time do things for yourself guilt free from work. When working towards that time off and after it, prioritize key work items that you get measured on only and prioritize the time you need in your personal/family life that will separate your brain from work. Ultimately, you may need to ask for an internal role change, a leave of absence or you might need to make a change in employers. Burnout can be in part your own fault, but if the work environment with your level of accountability and workload is overbearing, it may be best to consider leaving.

Talk about it openly with your manager! I've found other passion projects within work, and especially outside of work that have allowed me to regain the fuel to feel not fatigued at work

Take some time to figure out WHY? Is it the work, is it the compensation, is it the hours, is it the culture, etc? Are you ready to move to a leadership role or laterally to a better situation? The biggest mistake you can make is not taking the time to figure out the cause of your personal burnout. For example if you dislike the culture or don't have faith in the solution, asking for a raise isn't going to make you happier.

I believe in the mantra 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. If a Sales Engineer is facing burnout, first and foremost, take some days off to rest and rejuvenate. Once back, have a discussion with your supervisor on the probable causes of the burnout and work out both short term and long term solutions.

Based on my experience you could try identifying: 1. Physical Signs: Physical signs of burnout might include chronic fatigue, frequent headaches or muscle pain, and changes in appetite or sleep habits. 2. Emotional Signs: Emotional signs could include feelings of detachment, loss of motivation, increased cynicism, and a sense of ineffectiveness or failure. These can manifest in negative attitudes towards your work or colleagues, and decreased satisfaction or sense of accomplishment in what you do. 3. Performance Signs: Burnout can also impact your work performance. This might look like decreased productivity, difficulty concentrating, increased absenteeism or a decrease in the quality of work.

Based on my experience you could try the following: 1. Open Dialogue: It's important to have an open and honest conversation with your manager about your experience. Discuss your workload, any specific stressors, and how you are feeling. 2. Utilize Resources: Many companies have resources available to help employees cope with stress and burnout. These may include employee assistance programs, mental health benefits, or wellness initiatives. 3. Collaborative Problem Solving: Work with your manager and HR department to find ways to manage your workload and reduce stress. This could involve reassigning some tasks, adjusting deadlines, or providing additional support or resources.

Reach out to someone who knows you really well, preferably outside of work, like family or friends. Have an honest discussion without any seconds thoughts of being judged. Prefer someone who is a good listener. Most times we don't need any suggestions at all, all we would need is someone to hear us out. Acknowledging how we feel, verbally, would relieve stress & give clarity on what to do next. I sometimes indulge with my kid, the way they perceive the situation & suggest will be refreshing & give us a fresh perspective of the situation. Remember we earn to live not live to earn!

Support is one thing that most sales engineers try to avoid even when it is obvious that they require support in many aspects. Acknowledging that you need support is the first step to finding solutions.

If you're experiencing signs of burnout, seeking support is essential. Start by confiding in a trusted colleague, mentor, or friend about your feelings. Prioritise self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies. As a keen cyclist, I learned many years ago that "mother nature has a way of showing you how big and beautiful she is and how small and insignificant we are" - there is nothing like the great outdoors. The term forest bathing or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, involves immersing oneself in nature, particularly forests, for the purpose of promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It originated in Japan in the 1980s and has since gained popularity worldwide.

The importance of seeking support during burnout cannot be overstated, as the relief you need may be just a phone call away. Never hesitate to ask for help when needed; it doesn't signify weakness but rather demonstrates your dedication to completing tasks promptly and correctly.

Never be afraid to say "No". Don't have second thoughts on how would people feel if we declined requests. Think through the outcomes of the tasks from a personal & business point of view & if it doesn't satisfy the objectives, delegate it or deprioritize it. Make sure to plan the day well in advance, cutting some slack to ad-hoc requests. This way we are not caught off-guard & stress out when something unplanned pops up. At the end of the day it is mindset that matters! I try to be as disciplined as possible on planning & execution to not get burned out by the amount of tasks I have on my plate.

Based on my experience you could try the following: 1. Prioritization: Consider all the tasks on your plate and determine their urgency and importance. Focus on high-priority tasks that align with your goals and offer the most value. Delegating or deferring lower-priority tasks can help to manage your workload more effectively. 2. Time Management: Look at how your time is being spent. Are there tasks that are taking up a lot of time but not yielding much return? Identify any inefficiencies and explore ways to streamline your processes or eliminate unnecessary tasks. 3. Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid committing to more than you can realistically handle. It's important to be honest with yourself and others about your capacity.

Delegating tasks can be challenging, particularly when dealing with classified documents. A practical approach is to entrust the collection of information to others, setting a clear deadline for submission. This allows you to carefully assemble the information into the desired format within the specified timeframe. By doing so, the confidentiality of documents is preserved, and the necessary work is completed efficiently.

One of the main reasons people get burned out is because in every job, everything seems "urgent," and we don't know how to prioritize tasks. A recommendation is to write down your tasks and ask yourself what the priorities are. If you can't answer this yourself, never hesitate to ask your manager or someone in your organization to help you organize yourself.

Many sales organizations encourage overwork as a way of showing commitment to getting the job done. This needs to be called out as toxic. Take your PTO (aim for 1 week per quarter). Limit your nights and weekends to only when it's absolutely necessary. Being an SC is a very mentally and emotionally demanding job. Working non-stop not only is a direct contributor to burnout, but also lowers your overall efficiency; it takes you longer to do the same tasks.

Based on my experience you could try the following: 1. Improved Focus: Regular breaks can actually improve productivity by providing moments of rest that allow your mind to recharge. This can help maintain your focus and productivity levels throughout the day. 2. Reduced Stress: Short breaks throughout the day can also mitigate stress. This could involve taking a short walk, practicing mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises, or simply stepping away from your work area for a few minutes. 3. Preventing Fatigue: Continual work without breaks can lead to mental and physical fatigue. Regular rest periods can help to prevent this, ensuring you remain energetic and alert while working.

Try using the "Pomodoro Technique". A powerful tool for managing burnout by ensuring regular breaks to recharge. Set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle, and after every fourth session, take a longer break, typically 15-30 minutes. Use these breaks to step away from work, stretch, hydrate, or engage in activities that relax and rejuvenate you. By incorporating regular breaks into your work routine, you'll prevent burnout, maintain focus, and boost productivity. Remember, prioritising self-care is essential for long-term well-being and sustained success.

Sales Engineering utilises a lot of "left brain" function. If you're experiencing signs of burnout from an overload of left brain-oriented activities and tasks, try balancing with right brain activities. Engage in creative pursuits like painting, writing, or playing music. Explore nature, practice mindfulness, brisk walks, running or yoga to tap into your intuitive side. By stimulating both hemispheres, you'll find equilibrium, fostering mental clarity and resilience against burnout.

There are always new developments in your product line; whether from competitors, standards committees, regulators or customer reviews. Spend some time going down "rabbit holes" and one never knows what they will find. When incorporating the new or the trivial into your tool belt, the creative process is juiced and you become better at the job. Nothing breaks the doldrums better than feeling confident and competent.

Devoting time to acquire new skills while already burned out may seem counter productive, but new skills can make one more competitive not only in the current role, but also in the job market, opening doors to new opportunities and eliminating the feeling of "being stuck".

Based on my experience you could try the following: 1. Setting Boundaries: One crucial aspect of maintaining work-life balance is setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. 2. Time for Personal Activities: Dedicate time for activities that you enjoy outside work. This could be hobbies, exercise, spending time with family and friends, or simply relaxing. 3. Flexible Work Arrangements: If possible, consider flexible work arrangements. This could include remote work, flexible hours, or job-sharing arrangements.

This job requires crunch, and sometimes it's unavoidable, but it is still a job. Your career should power you as a person, you shouldn't exist outside of work to power your job. I've always found the more I work, the quality of my work tends to dip. Being a high performer means that you need sleep, you need that vacation, you need to manage your burnout and stress. Balance makes me better at my job. It's not an impediment to it.

Balancing personal and professional time requires conscious effort and continuous adjustment. For a sales engineer, whose work often involves irregular hours and high demands, it's crucial to implement strategies that foster efficiency, flexibility, and well-being. By prioritizing, leveraging technology, setting boundaries, caring for oneself, and seeking flexible work arrangements, you can achieve a healthier balance that benefits both your career and personal life.

We live in a world where if you don't work hard enough, you cannot survive. However, it is important for mental health to balance your life with work. This will help you relieve stress and become more productive. Try to forget about your work after working hours. Why do you want a life if you are not going to enjoy it?!!

Burnout can come out of nowhere. I’d always recommend a great mentor who can help you see perspective on the tasks you are facing, and assess which really move the needle. Drop the rest. Be high impact over busy. Other people’s priorities shouldn’t automatically become your priorities. Respect your own time and workload or nobody else will!

There are a lot of thankless, unglamorous parts of the Sales Engineer role. Not to mention the mixed feedback you'll get from every direction. Nothing cures burnout like the big win. Until that comes, the next best thing is to build trust and care with your peers, sales counterparts, and customers. Don't let the burn affect your people's interactions. Leave every conversation with a laugh, a learn, or a listen. I use those small relationship wins and acts of empathy to get through the weekly grind.

Do some soul searching and find the value in what you are doing. I find realizing I am helping another person's life gives me energy. Yes, your support is helping someone in some form. Maybe it is helping them close a sale that will financially help their family. Maybe it is educating them, so they get that good feeling that they are capable of learning.

I second that. A mentor can take you from just high performance to peak efficiency. I'd say just learning to prioritise the most important things in life: Family, Faith, Health, just to name a few helps be more productive for the longest periods of time.

All the advice above is so valid! Acknowledging you're burnt out is a great first step. Not to be too solutions-oriented, but taking the time to reflect on not only what is causing the burnout but also what you want to do with your time is important. It'll help you have a more context-rich and actionable conversation with your manager.