Avoiding Burnout in the Workplace: Are we really managing stress and burnout or are we just spinning our wheels?

Jacinda Ardern resigned last week citing: ‘I no longer have enough in the tank’.

I am not aware of any other specific instances of prime ministers or presidents resigning specifically due to ‘’burnout’’. Some leaders may have resigned due to stress or other personal reasons, but without more information other than what is available on the internet, it is difficult to say for certain whether burnout was the primary reason. It is also worth noting that the reasons behind a leader's resignation can be complex and may not be publicly disclosed in full. But this resignation appears to be a world first and a shock for some as Jacinda Ardern was a very popular leader.

It’s important to recognize the last few years have been tough on everyone and I recognize the amount of pressure leaders around the world in every facet of life have been through has been taxing. Our world and lives are getting busier, faster, and definitely more competitive. Our lives are full of more technology and information, more availability of resources, and ability to travel. It’s an amazing time to be alive.

My question is, ‘’Are we keeping up with this rapid change?’’

Burnout is real, it is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on an individual's well-being and productivity, as well as the overall success of an organisation. In today's fast-paced and competitive work environment, it is more important than ever for employers, managers, and supervisors to understand the importance of managing burnout personally and in the workplace.

The signs and symptoms of burnout to look out for can include a decline in feelings of work satisfaction and accomplishment, feelings of cynicism and detachment, feelings of weariness and lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, and difficulty concentrating and making decisions. There are also a number of physical symptoms that can be markers of burnout, including recurrent illnesses, insomnia, and changes in appetite.

One of the main reasons why burnout is such a significant concern is that it can lead to a decline in an individual's physical and mental health and well-being. Prolonged stress can cause a variety of health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease. It can also lead to a decrease in your work performance and cause an increase in absenteeism. This can have a negative impact on you and your family it also can impact a business and lead to a decrease in morale among employees and the workplace in general.

Another reason why managing burnout is important is that it can lead to high turnover rates especially when we are talking about high-intensity work environments i.e. construction. When employees are experiencing burnout, they are more likely to look for a new job, or project or to leave the company altogether.

You can take several steps to prevent burnout for yourself and to support colleagues who may be experiencing it. One important step is to creating a culture of work-life balance. This means ensuring that employees have the opportunity to take breaks and to disconnect from work when necessary. A practice I have implemented for many years looking after teams of people is encouraging self management including time management and fatigue management. A moto of mine is ''a sleep in is as good as a day off''. When team member is clearly fatigued I will encourage them to have the morning off and come in well rested.

Employers can also provide resources and support, such as counseling services or an employee assistance program, to help employees manage stress and cope with burnout.

Another way to manage burnout in the workplace is to provide opportunities for employee development and growth. When employees feel challenged and engaged in their work, they are less likely to experience burnout. Providing opportunities for employees to take on new responsibilities, to learn new skills, and to advance in their careers can help to prevent burnout and promote engagement.

All of this is nice and sounds easy to do, but what about when our leaders are suffering from exhaustion and burnout? It becomes very hard to recognise burnout when you suffer from this yourself let alone apply management strategies to manage others’ burnout.

It is no coincidence that the NZ Prime Minister resigned straight after the Christmas Break. It is clear to me that some time off gave her time to reflect, recalibrate and reset. I know I used to run on adrenalin on projects for extended periods of time and only when I stopped for more than a week I realized I was getting burnt-out. I believe it is even more important in this day and age for our leaders to take a step back and reset on a regular basis. Taking regular time to self-check and intervals for recalibration to ensure they are consistently managing the pressure and stress of the expectations placed on them in this error of high performance and output.

In summary, burnout is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on our well-being, productivity, and overall success of our organisations and families. We must understand the importance of managing burnout in the workplace and take steps to prevent it. This can be done by creating a culture of work-life balance, providing resources and support, and offering opportunities for employee development and growth.

By taking a proactive approach to managing burnout, organisations can create a more positive and productive work environment for all employees. Investing in employee engagement and recognition programs, can increase job satisfaction and reduce stress levels. Employee health and wellness programs can include things like exercise classes, healthy eating options, and access to healthcare services.

Workplace policies that promote work-life balance, such as flexible working hours, remote working options, and paid time off have become the norm for big companies like Google and Amazon. Stress management training programs, which teach employees coping mechanisms and strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout are another great option.

Life is getting busy but at the end of the day your health is the most important asset you have, look after yourself, your loved ones, and your mates.