Dealing with burnout in creative teams

We have all dealt with burnout at some time in our careers, some of us multiple times, and it is never a fun experience or even fully understood by our peers and management. But I believe we still have a lot to learn about it’s lingering effects and the best ways to avoid it. Keep in mind that until a few years ago that wasn’t even a discussion. Our parents, our grandparents, they had to work through exhaustion in order to keep their position. Burnout, depression, and other issues were not a factor, so we are moving to a better balance, but we still have a long way to go.

In today's fast-paced world, burnout has become a common problem among employees and communities, particularly those in creative teams, where teams are ‘having fun, doing something they love’. Burnout refers to a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to stress, leading to a decrease in productivity, creativity, and motivation. It is a severe condition that can have long-term effects on an individual's health and well-being. In this article, we will discuss the reality of burnout in creative teams, its effects on productivity, and why company leaders should care about the team's health.

Renowned psychologists have researched the effects of burnout. According to a study by Christina Maslach, a social psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, burnout is a three-dimensional syndrome consisting of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.

Emotional exhaustion

Emotional exhaustion refers to feeling drained and depleted of energy due to prolonged exposure to stress. It is a feeling of being emotionally overextended and having nothing left to give. Emotional exhaustion can lead to a decrease in motivation, creativity, and productivity, and can also have long-term effects on an individual's physical and mental health. It is an important dimension to address when dealing with burnout in the workplace. A good way to visualise it is the feeling of not caring anymore for the results. The team continues to do their work, but their hearts are no longer at it.

Depersonalization

Depersonalization is characterized by negative attitudes and feelings towards others, particularly clients, and a decreased ability to empathize. It is a sense of detachment and a lack of emotional involvement in the workplace. Depersonalization can lead to a decrease in the quality of work and a negative impact on personal relationships. It can also have long-term effects on an individual's mental health, including anxiety and depression. The examples given for emotional exhaustion would easily fit here too, but add to it irritation and annoyance towards team members and clients. A good example of it is having a ?What now?‘ grunting thought when a team member calls you. Little things, that one would solve easily before, now become dramas. Addressing depersonalization in the workplace is crucial to creating a positive work environment and avoiding the negative effects of burnout.

Reduced personal accomplishment

Reduced personal accomplishment refers to the feeling of inadequacy and the inability to achieve personal goals and objectives. It is a sense of failure and a lack of fulfillment in one's work. Reduced personal accomplishment can lead to a decrease in motivation and job satisfaction, and it can also have long-term effects on an individual's mental health. Gaslighting and undercover criticisms or ?improvements‘ can contribute to the reduction of personal value and long-lasting low self-steem issues.

Providing opportunities for professional development and recognizing employee achievements can help to combat reduced personal accomplishment and increase motivation and job satisfaction. Nobody likes feeling they are trapped in the 'harmster wheel'. And we all need acknowledgement for our achievements.

Symptons of burnout (the ones we know)

The physical and mental symptoms of burnout include fatigue, insomnia, headaches, muscle tension, irritability, anxiety, and depression. Prolonged exposure to stress can also cause chronic health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal issues.

Trying to push through burnout can have lasting effects on an individual's health and well-being. Burnout can lead to reduced creativity and motivation, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism. It can also cause a negative impact on personal relationships, particularly with coworkers and family members. Moreover, trying to push through burnout can lead to a vicious cycle of stress and exhaustion, leading to chronic health problems. One of the known health issues is a weakened immune system, making an individual more susceptible to illness and infection. Chronic stress can also cause increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other cardiovascular problems. Additionally, individuals experiencing burnout may be more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours such as overeating, lack of exercise, and substance abuse, all of which can contribute to chronic health problems. Over time, these chronic health problems can have a significant impact on an individual's overall well-being, leading to decreased quality of life and increased healthcare costs.

Why is it important?

You, as a C-level executive or manager, might think this is a personal problem, and not an issue the company needs to be involved in. But company leaders should care about the team's health because it affects the overall performance and success of the organization, which will influence the quality of your products and services and your relationship with your clients, impacting the financial results. It also means the company will have a higher rotativity of personnel, which inccurs in rising training costs and overworking existing members, increasing burnout rates again. It is a vicious cycle and an expensive one. Again, for the ones in the back that didn’t hear: Burnout in creative teams can lead to missed deadlines and dissatisfied clients. Moreover, employee turnover and absenteeism can have a significant financial impact on the company's bottom line. If you care about nothing but profit and revenue, still so burnout should be something you want to avoid.

We can avoid it

To prevent burnout in creative teams, company leaders can implement measures to reduce stress and promote work-life balance. This can include flexible working hours, regular breaks, employee support programs, and team-building activities. Encouraging open communication and providing a positive work environment can also help reduce stress and prevent burnout. It is also possible to reduce stress in the work activities by planning ahead, taking into consideration the team and time involved, and making sure you are taking the human-factor into consideration when making executive decisions. Remember that, to achieve the best results, you need to take into consideration the well-being of the individuals in your team, and they are not machines or clones, so each has different circunstances and rhythms that must be accounted for.

So, there you have it! Avoiding burnout in the workplace is not only good for employees' mental and physical health but also for the company's bottom line. By preventing burnout and promoting a healthy work-life balance, companies can improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, and increase employee engagement and satisfaction. Plus, it can save on healthcare costs associated with chronic health problems resulting from burnout. So, let's all take a deep breath, step back from our work for a moment, and prioritize our mental health and well-being. Your company, your team, and most importantly, you, will thank you for it!