Burnout: How to Fight It Both Individually and Within Organizations

based on the Gallup report “Prevent and Overcome Burnout”

Burnout results from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, affecting 28% of workers who feel very often or always exhausted by their work. Gallup conducted a study on more than 3,000 employees to understand their coping strategies in the face of burnout. The results show a variety of strategies, but these are not always the most effective.

Some natural strategies for managing burnout may be less effective than other recommended options, often overlooked, which can more effectively reduce burnout symptoms. It is advisable to understand which coping strategies are actually useful, to rely on those that match one's strengths, and to consider new coping strategies. Leaders and managers play a key role in preventing and combating burnout by addressing its common causes such as unfair treatment, workload overload, unclear communication, lack of manager support, and unreasonable time pressure.

Gallup recommends a strength-based approach to manage burnout, encouraging both individuals and organizations to adopt proactive prevention strategies.

Useful coping strategies for overcoming burnout depend on the individual's dominant strength category and can vary from one person to another. Here are the recommended strategies for each strength domain:

For the Executing Domain

This domain encompasses talents related to the ability to take initiatives and see things through to completion. Individuals with dominant strengths in this domain are often very good at transforming ideas into concrete actions and accomplishing tasks.

Instinctive strategies: getting back to work quickly, engaging in physical activity.

Recommended strategies: taking time to reflect on one's situation (-48% of burnout symptoms), finding what is positive in one's current work situation (-46%).

For the Influencing Domain

Talents in this domain help a person to influence others. Individuals with influencing strengths are often skilled at selling ideas internally and externally, motivating others, and prompting them to action.

Instinctive strategies: spending more time with family and friends, thinking about how work contributes to future goals.

Recommended strategies: exercising or engaging in physical activity (-48%), reflecting on how one has approached similar situations in the past (-41%).

For the Relationship Building Domain

This domain covers talents that enable a person to build strong relationships that can connect people to each other. Individuals with dominant strengths in this domain are often crucial for bringing teams together and ensuring everyone feels connected and understood.

Instinctive strategies: considering how colleagues perceive the situation, how work affects others.

Recommended strategies: reflecting on how one has approached similar situations in the past (-43%), using relaxation or mindfulness exercises like meditation, prayer, or yoga (-33%).

For the Strategic Thinking Domain

Talents in this domain are those that allow a person to think and plan for the long term. Individuals with strategic thinking strengths are often skilled at analyzing situations, exploring alternatives, and making plans that will lead to future success.

Instinctive strategies: taking time to think about the situation, taking breaks to relax during the workday.

Recommended strategies: viewing the current situation as a challenge to find a way to succeed (-42%), spending more time with family and friends (-34%).

These recommendations suggest that, although individuals tend to adopt certain strategies based on their natural inclinations, there are alternatives that might be more effective for reducing burnout symptoms. Experimenting with recommended strategies that are not necessarily instinctive can provide more effective ways to manage burnout.