What do you do if your nonprofit team is overwhelmed and burnt out?

Leaders of overwhelmed and burnt-out nonprofit teams should take action to address the issue and support their team members. Steps include acknowledging the problem, assessing workloads, promoting self-care, providing additional support, fostering a supportive culture, implementing flexible work arrangements, offering professional development opportunities, celebrating achievements, seeking feedback, and leading by example. By proactively addressing overwhelm and burnout, leaders can improve morale and create a more positive and productive work environment for their team.

It's vital to start by recognizing the signs of stress openly. As a leader, I make it a point to create a space where feelings of overwhelm are acknowledged without stigma. This involves regular check-ins where team members feel safe to express their struggles. Acknowledging stress is the first step in fostering a supportive culture that values mental health as much as mission success.

Before you redistribute, look at the tasks. Are they valuable, necessary, and directly aligned with a stated goal? No? Possible they're time wasters. Be ruthless in sussing these out and ditching them.

I advocate for self-care by setting an example. Sharing my own practices of taking breaks, pursuing hobbies, or simply disconnecting from work after hours encourages my team to do the same. We've integrated self-care into our organizational culture, recognizing that a well-rested team is more effective and happier in their roles.

When a nonprofit staff is overburdened and experiencing burnout, it is critical to assist in controlling their workload and stress. Implementing stress management courses, providing access to counselling services, and encouraging professional development opportunities can help team members cope with stress and feel more competent and secure in their positions, thereby minimizing symptoms of burnout. Encouraging employees to take their days off and fostering a culture that values regular and scheduled time off can help organizations achieve their goals while avoiding burnout. Building organizational knowledge of burnout and encouraging staff well-being via education and programs can also help to boost team resilience and avoid burnout.

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As one with over 30 years of serving in the nonprofit sector, I have encouraged my team members to have an open discussion about burnout and to also recognize signs of stress and manage it to prevent burnout. I have set every 7 years of service to take a sabbatical lasting from between 3-6 months to rest and refresh. Aside from that, when I noticed I had worked tirelessly for a long period, I took my leave and travelled away from my city to avoid the attraction of being drawn to "help". In all, I would encourage breaks, prioritize self-care, set limits, seek assistance when needed, build a healthy work culture, and address systemic burnout.

Beyond these steps, it's important to cultivate an organizational culture that inherently values balance, respect, and empathy. This might involve ongoing training, team-building activities, and leadership development focused on emotional intelligence. Additionally, fostering a sense of community and purpose within the team can be incredibly empowering. Reminding each other of the impact of our work can reignite passion and provide the strength to navigate through challenging times together.

It may sound unconventional, but I’ve used it and it works: Connect with your team through JOY. We often find ourselves caught up in responsibilities, commitments, rush, …sometimes we forget about maintaining a positive attitude and incorporating humor into our work. In my experience, embracing joy has not only lifted team spirit but has also sparked creativity, enhanced collaboration, and boosted morale. Results have been outstanding! And when joy is combined with recognizing and celebrating small victories, memorable and impactful experiences for everyone involved are created (and remembered!). Joy encourages everyone to perform at their best, contributes to overall well-being, success, and reduces stress and burnout levels.