7 ways to combat career burnout
Sinead Sharkey-Steenson
??Powering women to leadership success in business & sport | ?? The Peri/ Menopause Leadership Coach | ??Co-Founder Impact Players?? ?? Global & TedX Speaker | ?? Stand Up ?? Perimenopausal sea swimmer breaking barriers
The danger of burnout is a drum I’ve been banging for over 10 years having coached teams on the cusp of burnout in the corporate world.?Thankfully, businesses have started introducing well-being initiatives and normalising talk about pressure and stress.
The term burnout was first coined by Herbert J Freudenberger in his book Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. And he sums it up succinctly here.
“If you have ever seen a building that has been burned out, you know it’s a devastating sight. What had once been a throbbing, vital structure is now deserted. Where there had once been activity, there are now only crumbling reminders of energy and life. Some bricks or concrete may be left; some outline of windows. Indeed, the outer shell may seem almost intact. Only if you venture inside will you be struck by the full force of the desolation. “
The World Health Organization have officially classified burnout as a medical diagnosis, describing burnout as, “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”
Many people work long hours, sometimes to an excessive level and never suffer any hint of burnout. It’s more than “working too hard”. It’s serious, and it has consequences for your career and more importantly mental health. A temporary high level of stress brought on by a project or goal at work is manageable. But, when high stress levels become part of your daily life for months on end it’s time to recognise the harm that it’s doing. When stress becomes absolute burnout it moves from “too much pressure” to “I’m not enough”.
With an increased amount of home working there is a risk that it will become a regular problem for far too many people. Burnout is much more common in people who expect too much of themselves, find themselves in the wrong job or feel inadequate. It’s also much more common in workplaces where employees are not valued and appreciated and where workloads and demands are excessive. This is why recognising it and dealing with it is the responsibility of the employee and the employer in equal measure.
Some of the key signs of burnout are:
Aside from generally being unhappy at work or being absent, this can in serious cases, lead to depression and self medication with alcohol.
领英推荐
Ignoring the tell tale signs of burnout can be easy if we lie to ourselves “I’m fine, I’ll get take a week off and be ok” is a common masking strategy. Similarly, an employer can hide behind the mantra of “we work hard this is who we are”. None of this makes the issues go away and the certainly don’t make the individual or business more productive.
So what can you do to put out the fire before it gets out of control?
We quite rightly have spend the last few years hyper vigilant about our environment and physical health. Now it’s time to apply the same vigilance to your mental health in the workplace. You spend a huge amount of time working and you owe it to yourself and your family to keep the fire burning in the RIGHT way.
Professional?career coaching?can help you create a healthier work-life integration. As a coach I can provide unbiased expertise to help you get the results you’ve been hoping for.
I also work with you on your mental fitness, so you can can perform at your best whilst minimising stress.
If you’d like to know how I can help you elevate your career to the level it should be why not?contact me for a chat.
Your next copywriter in B2B, hospitality & events ? Composing clear, plucky, heart-centred words that shine during uncertain times - or at any time ?? Delegate Wranglers Superstar Supplier ? #TeamEspresso
3 年"Utter dread of going to work each day" This brings back bad memories of how a bullying, passive agressive boss made me feel. I was working to burnout levels anyway without her lovely contribution to the situation. ??
Leadership Facilitator | Award winning Mentor & Coach | I help managers become confident leaders. | 2022 Prince's Trust/Good Morning Britain 'Volunteer of the Year' Award winner
3 年Sound advice from Sinead!