Corporate communications is a rewarding but demanding field that requires creativity, strategic thinking, and constant adaptation. However, it can also lead to stress, fatigue, and burnout if you don't take care of yourself and your work environment. Here are some tips on how to avoid burnout in corporate communications and maintain your passion and productivity.
One of the main causes of burnout is overcommitment. You may feel pressured to take on more projects, deadlines, and responsibilities than you can handle, or to work long hours without breaks. This can result in poor quality, frustration, and exhaustion. To avoid this, you need to know your limits and communicate them clearly to your managers, clients, and colleagues. Learn to say no when you are overwhelmed, delegate tasks when possible, and prioritize your most important and urgent goals. Also, set realistic expectations and avoid perfectionism, as it can lead to unnecessary stress and dissatisfaction.
One thing I frequently say to my team, and to clients, is: "Agility is the new stability" (H/T Dave Samson). It's arguable that there were EVER any good old days, or that our pre-internet lives were less frenetic than today. But building your personal and your organization's ability to become and remain agile -- to adapt to change, to anticipate where the next wave is coming from (such as what we're seeing with AI), to build and nurture the relationships critical to your career and your organization's stakeholder audiences -- is really the challenge and opportunity for organizations and communicators in the future. This agility, resilience, elasticity -- will stave off burnout and help you embrace the volume and velocity of change ahead.
Having been treated for four burnouts throughout my career, I have tried it all and succeeded in some but clearly failed in others. Almost every two years I am burnt out. I have set the boundaries, delegated, planned my leave in advance, I exercise four times a week, meditate, proactively do my health assessments, avoid negative input (news, people, etc). It’s dawning on me that perhaps one should care less. That’s one thing I haven’t tried. If your work is your passion and you work with your heart, you are likely going to burn out sooner or later. As my doctor once said “either you quit your job or keep visiting me, that’s a life of an executive”. Retreating, doing things I enjoy and spending lots of time with myself has been my sanity.
Working with my heart ??, giving it my all and pushing myself beyond my limits contributed to the burnout I’m experiencing now. Frequently changing working environments is another cause. One doesn’t really settle, you are constantly rebuilding stakeholder relationships, teams and yourself in a new environment and that can be toxic to the body. I just realised that in my 25 year career I’ve never taken three weeks uninterrupted leave except maternity which is not vacation and December is also not vacation because of extended family demands. The body keeps score and when it says no, it says NO!
It is crucial not to force a balance between work and personal. That's just an unachievable goal. Come to terms with the concept of being beautifully imperfect and find balance in the imbalanced distribution of your day, efforts and outputs between your personal and professional life. Remind yourself that forced boundaries can also add to your stress.
No possible! :D I am kidding, it is really hard to keep a balance when you are in a communication field. More involved you are, better results you can achieve. My advice would be - have a team with a main value - honest. Let them honestly tell you that it is a time for You to relax, to stop or to make a short pause. And for sure - listen to them! Merry Christmas!
Another key factor in preventing burnout is finding a healthy balance between your work and your personal life. You need to make time for yourself, your family, and your hobbies, and avoid letting work consume your entire day. This means setting boundaries and disconnecting from your work-related devices and platforms when you are off duty. You also need to schedule regular breaks throughout your workday, and use them to relax, recharge, and refresh your mind. Moreover, you need to take care of your physical and mental health by getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and seeking support when needed.
Work is a large part of most people's lives, so rather than think about work/life balance, think simply about life balance. Life balance is personal to each individual, but whoever you are, it is important and should be considered in key career decisions. Also, I believe that a good balance comes from variety of what you do, at work and beyond - be curious, continue to learn and aim to actively engineer new thinking into what you do - that way life will never be dull!
Some comms jobs are easier to balance than others. But for media relations/spokespeople like me, you often must jump into work mode when a leak happens at 10pm or a reporter texts you on a Friday and their deadline is Sunday. So for me, it’s more about work/life integration. If I’ve managed a 2 weeks’ long crisis, I work with my boss to take some time off after that. Or my one boundary is that I need to work out every day to avoid stress - which sometimes means I’ve hopped on a treadmill at midnight on a Wednesday night. At this point I know the things I need to do to feel like work doesn’t rule my life. And I find ways to integrate them vs. balance them.
Work aggressively to follow a passion or hobby outside of your work. It is very easy to slip up and find out one day that all your days have gone by with you spending your free time working for a company or sleeping. You should not live for the weekends. So, keep a fraction of your time everyday to do something for yourself, that gives you joy, peace or growth and follow it obsessively.
As an entrepreneur it feels like burnouts come as part of the package. I have been here many times. Its a grey area between work and life and many times work is your life and life is your work.. The first step towards balance i feel is, we need lot of dialogue and conversation in this space to get expert help... secondly we need to then bring "empathy" into corporate culture as a distinctive factor to help fellow mates take enough breaks / relax / plan / pacing oneself better.
I used to have a high hustle-culture perspective where I felt not being good enough unless I commit all my time and energy to the work. Then I was given the perspective that if I truly cared about the work, I need to keep my physical and mental health in check. This is because when the work actually needs me, I'll be available instead of being sick and underperforming due to prior overnight sessions. Point is, we can benefit the work most when we are at our creative and innovative best, and that is only sustained when we're healthy.
Corporate communications is a dynamic and evolving field that requires you to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. This can be exciting, but also challenging and stressful. To cope with change and avoid burnout, you need to embrace learning and development as part of your career. You can do this by seeking feedback, attending training sessions, reading books and articles, joining online communities, and networking with other professionals. By doing so, you will enhance your skills, knowledge, and confidence, and discover new opportunities and perspectives.
I think you have to be a change junkie to enjoy corporate communications. To some extent, you come to work each day and don’t know what to expect. Part of avoiding burnout you have to embrace and enjoy some uncertainty and spontaneity.
A mis casi 50 puedo dar fe y testimonio de que los cambios son buenos y que el aprendizaje es nuestro barco en el mar de la vida. Soy de una generación que aprendió de cero a manejar esta vida digital y cada nuevo programa agiliza lo que antes me tocaba hacer a mano o que me tomaba más tiempo. De ambos mundos aprendí que es maravilloso saber cómo aprender a desaprender, a dejar que el cambio me guie para que todo fluya mejor, pero sobre todo a reconocer que como vengo de cómo se hacia antes, puedo colaborar a que lo nuevo, también se haga mejor.
Embracing change and continuous learning is vital in the ever-evolving field of corporate communications. Staying updated with the latest trends and technologies is both exciting and challenging. To manage this and prevent burnout, incorporate learning and development into your career strategy. Seek feedback to understand areas of improvement. Attend training sessions and workshops to enhance your skills. Read books and articles to keep abreast of industry developments. Participate in online communities and professional networks to exchange ideas and experiences. This approach not only boosts your skills and knowledge but also builds your confidence.
Lots of truth in the comment above about being a bit of a change junkie. Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Corp Comm professionals face ambiguous situations with sometimes few details.
Vivimos en un mundo en constante cambio, que evoluciona constantemente. Haybque afrontar el cambio sin medio. Entender esta realidad, filtrar y priorizar la información en un mundo que nos abruma con tanto ruido y no dejarnos llevar por la sobresaturación
One of the most powerful ways to avoid burnout is to find meaning and purpose in your work. You need to remind yourself why you chose corporate communications as your profession, and what impact you want to make through your messages, campaigns, and strategies. You also need to align your work with your personal values, goals, and passions, and seek projects and clients that resonate with you. Furthermore, you need to celebrate your achievements, recognize your contributions, and appreciate your colleagues. By doing so, you will boost your motivation, satisfaction, and enthusiasm.
In Corporate Communications, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of your purpose. To avoid burnout, it's essential to focus on your purpose and the impact your work has on the organization and its stakeholders. Take time to reflect on your values and goals, and ensure that your work aligns with them. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and use them as motivation to keep pushing forward.
Aligning my interests with my work has been extremely important in finding the most fulfilling opportunities in communications. Part of that is listening to yourself, reflecting on what you truly value, and trusting your gut when you need a change. I often think about the following quote from Steve Jobs in those moments: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle."
Perspective is critical to communications in a large organization. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day grind and lose sight of the bigger picture. This leads to frustration and therefore less fulfillment in your work. I like taking time every two or three month to step back and track what’s been achieved and compare it to the overall goal for the year. This helps put the smaller setbacks into perspective, motivates you to continue working hard, and reminds you of why you’re doing this in the first place.
Often as Corporate Comms' practitioners, we multi-task and work on numerous projects concurrently. For me, I start my day with a mind-map to map out all the key things that I set out to do. And often, other unplanned things come my way but I try to complete as many things in my to-do list as possible and restart the process the next day. Knowing that things are moving in the right direction, be it a small step and socializing and having casual chats with colleagues in between certainly help to prevent burnouts.
Burnout occurs when you don't get enough support from your boss, colleagues, or team mates. No matter how hard you might have been trying to keep up with the pace, proactively complete every assigned task within deadline, be of help to members around you still there will 90% chances for burnout to happen. There comes your purpose and passion. These two things will be your fuel for keeping up at work. Remember you can't please anyone and everyone. Therefore place yourself first, the rest follows....
Corporate communications can sometimes become monotonous and repetitive, especially if you work on similar tasks, topics, or formats. This can lead to boredom, frustration, and burnout. To avoid this, you need to seek variety and creativity in your work. You can do this by experimenting with different styles, tools, and media, and trying new ideas and approaches. You can also collaborate with other departments, teams, or experts, and learn from their insights and experiences. Additionally, you can seek inspiration from other sources, such as art, music, or nature, and use them to spark your imagination and innovation.
Don't be afraid to explore a new sector. As communicators our skill set is transferable, and that is a blessing! You can start out in government/public affairs and decide to transition to technology. Overcoming the learning curve that comes with a new sector can be a great way to spark creativity and inspiration.
If you’re leading a team, give your staff the opportunity to change portfolios and work on different topics. This could include short-term assignments or a mini switch up within the team.
I changed jobs and careers several times in my life to ensure I was always feeling challenged and to avoid boredom. Working for an agency or starting your own consulting business are ways to inject variety into your work life. Take courses to learn new skills and you may discover you have talents and interests you were not aware of! Volunteering can also be a great way to meet new people who you can learn from.
Technology is changing fast. Keep pace and try new approaches. There’s always a new, innovative way to do things that will grab attention and make your job more interesting.
To keep things fresh at work and prevent burnout, mix it up by being creative not only in your messages but also in your work approach. Explore new ways of collaborating with channel partners, think outside the box, and bring innovative ideas to the table. This not only adds excitement to your tasks but also strengthens partnerships, making your work more fulfilling and reducing the risk of burnout.
Finally, one of the best ways to avoid burnout is to have fun and enjoy your work. Corporate communications is a creative and rewarding field that allows you to express yourself, connect with others, and influence change. You need to remember this and enjoy the process and the outcomes of your work. You can also inject some humor, playfulness, and positivity into your work environment, and share them with your colleagues, clients, and audiences. By doing so, you will reduce stress, increase happiness, and foster a culture of engagement and collaboration.
Finding joy & having fun at work doesn’t mean compromising productivity. It's about creating a balanced & enjoyable work environment that fosters creativity, collaboration & overall well-being. Celebrate team milestones and individual achievements it fosters a positive environment. Personalize your workspace with things that bring you joy, whether it’s plants, artwork, or motivational quotes. Inject Humor where appropriate. It can lighten the mood. Creative thinking and allow space for unconventional ideas. Turn mundane tasks into games or challenges. Setting small goals or targets and rewarding achievements can make work more engaging. When employees feel they are progressing and learning new things, it can make work more fulfilling.
Micro-resilience techniques are small, everyday actions that can help in managing stress, like brief mindfulness exercises, gratitude journaling, or even short walks.
Based on my experience on the job, there are periods when the work load gets so heavy but the passion and the desire to succeed keeps me going. While I put in the back of my mind that such periods are temporal, I enjoy doing what I do and look forward to adding a new touch to what I do. Seeing the desired results gives me joy that money cannot buy. That way, I really don't get to experience burn out.
Beruf kommt von Berufung und somit hat diese These auch einen besonderen Einfluss auf das jeweilige Stress-Level. In einem sinnstiftenden Beruf kann man hingegen positiven Stress erleben.
La comunicación debe ser inspiradora, natural y divertida. Hay varios caminos para movilizar personas y consciencias, entre ellos se destacan la capacidad de generar rabia, indignación, esperanza, sorpresa y felicidad. La rabia e indignación marcaron la comunicación efectiva por varias décadas. Ahora le llego el turno a sentimientos más optimistas. Recuerda siempre que la gente recordara lo que le hiciste sentir, no lo que le dijiste. Por eso, la primera prueba de una buena comunicación es si genera algún efecto en sus audiencias, si mueve en algo sus sentimientos. Y para los equipos creativos, la invitación debe ser a trabajar por una causa, un propósito, alguna inspiración que le signifique algo bueno a alguien.
I’ve been talking about workloads quite a lot with my other half over the last year or so. One of the things she said that really struck a chord with me is that it’s, “less about bringing your best self to work, and more about bringing your best self home… as long as you’re still happy and ‘you’ when you’re at home, then I know things are ok. If that changes, then it’s a different conversation.” I think about that quite a lot. If you’re loving what you’re doing then working long hours can actually energise you; but if you’re feeling drained even when not at work, then you should pay attention to that and consider what you can change, and whose help you need to do it.
As comms professionals, we juggle complex relationships and high expectations every day. We often find ourselves at the mercy of factors we can’t control, and these can turn our well-laid plans upside down. A vital survival skill in our field is to not take things personally. And the secret sauce? Focus on what's in your hands - your actions and reactions. Pour your energy here, and you’ll find yourself navigating tasks with more ease and less stress. Embracing this, while remembering that your worth isn’t measured by every single outcome, is crucial to keep burnout at bay. It’s about striking a balance between putting in your best effort and knowing that sometimes, the winds of change are just part of our job’s nature.
Tell a story Often the story is missing in most corporate messages. There has to be a story to push, it can’t always be a client. If you don’t have a story, you have a problem.
Remind yourself daily: You can't control everything. More than the actual workload, my biggest stressor used to be the mental pressure I put on myself. In an environment with diverse stakeholders and external influences, I tried to be in constant control and two steps ahead of everything - impossible. Key learning: Be proactive in your everyday work and prepare for potential challenges, but learn to embrace the unknown. And when it's time to react, trust your experience and go with your gut.
There was a period my work days seemed to be characterized solely by producing media releases and responding to media inquiries. And as someone who’s never been comfortable with monotony, I was bored to death. But, I found that the source of the boredom was not just the repetition of tasks, but the repetition of formats. When I decided to experiment with different formats, my inspiration bloomed. Corporate communication is a creative field, not a mathematical formula. So, don’t be afraid to do it differently. Also, understand your sources of inspiration, and how to bring them to your office. I love good music, so I’m hardly working without music. Not only does it keep me company, it also helps me to imagine things in different ways.