Here's how you can overcome burnout and improve job performance in the food and beverage industry.

One thing I have always strived to do is lead with empathy. I would rather my employees be able to tell me they are having a rough time before the burnout occurs instead of after the burnout has already started. If my employees trust me enough to tell me about it we can get ahead of it together. Sometimes they just need an extra break or a little motivation. You cannot fix what you do not know so for me it is very important that my employees feel like they can be honest with me.

In the midst of managing a high-end restaurant, I began experiencing persistent fatigue and irritability. Initially brushing it off as stress, I realized these were signs of burnout when it started affecting my interactions with the team and the quality of service. Taking a step back, I acknowledged the signs and took proactive steps—delegating tasks more effectively, prioritizing self-care, and seeking support from my team. This experience taught me the importance of recognizing burnout early and taking decisive action to maintain job performance and personal well-being. Encourage honesty and transparency from your team, they need to be able to communicate where they are at with burnout challenges.

Burnout can creep up on you. Watch for these red flags: ??Physical Symptoms: Constant fatigue, headaches, or muscle pain. ??Emotional Signs: Irritability, detachment, or loss of interest in work. ??Behavioral Changes: Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or unhealthy coping mechanisms. Don't brush off these signs as "just being busy." Recognizing burnout early helps you take action before it worsens.

Making sure you take care of yourself is huge. Having a great work life balance is critical to physical and mental health. I think a lot of bosses don’t take quality of life into consideration when it comes to their employees. Let off days be off days and always remember your employees are people too and they are not just your employee.

One thing I have found that has helped my teams is to take the time to celebrate every success- no matter how small. 1% improvement is still an improvement and if you improve 1% every single day in 100 days you’ll improve by 100%. Celebrate. Every. Single. Success.

Job crafting empowers employees to customize their roles, aligning tasks with their strengths and interests, which enhances job satisfaction and reduces burnout. Total Quality Management (TQM) ensures continuous improvement by involving employees in quality initiatives and maintaining a focus on customer needs. Cross-functional collaboration integrates diverse perspectives and expertise across departments, promoting innovation and efficiency in achieving organizational goals. Together, these strategies create a dynamic workplace culture that supports employee engagement and operational excellence in the food and beverage industry.