Edition 77 - What's Your Burnout Prevention Strategy?

Burnout is very real. Many suffer from it at some point during their career. It can be devastating for some, but a temporary issue for others.

What can be done to prevent from getting to that point?

There are some action steps we can take to avoid or minimize the potential for burnout. And if you find yourself in that place or close to that place right now, it's even more important to implement some of these approaches.

Let's take a look at some of the potential causes coupled with some steps we can take to avoid burnout.

Cause #1 - Too much on our plate - there are times that we can get overloaded by the sheer volume and effort required to manage our work.

Action to resolve - know your own limits; communicate those limits to your manager; delegate routine tasks that consume time and energy to other team members.

Cause #2 - Lack of team discipline - Team members that don't communicate well or follow direction.

Action to resolve - as a team leader it is your responsibility to ensure good communication happening and team members know their responsibilities. Leaders should attempt to resolve issues as they are identified so they don't become major stress-inducing problems. But, do not let issues fester. Address them early on.

Cause #3 - lack of personal discipline - poor work ethic allows uncompleted tasks to accumulate and slip resulting in playing catchup. This often leads to rushed and shoddy work, stress, and the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Action to resolve - Having a solid routine is the key here. Use calendars to block out time to accomplish tasks. Stay focused and in communication with your team.

Cause #4 - poor work and personal boundaries. This one may be one of the most impactful causes, as not being able to set boundaries in work and personal lives leads to extra demand on our physical and emotional health.

Action to resolve - prioritization, time blocking, delegation, and breaks are all valuable tactics to establish boundaries that enable us to focus on the task at hand and disconnect at the end of the day.

Above all - take care of yourself. Diet and exercise have huge impacts on our physical and emotional health. Hobbies are a great way to release pent up stress and tension.

These are just a few of the potential causes of burnout and some possible ways we can prevent or minimize the effects.

What methods do you use to prevent burnout?

Steve Platia has been developing and leading high-performing teams, products, and processes in the renewable energy, manufacturing, oil/gas, and construction industries for over 30 years. He can be reached at [email protected] or (918) 269-0472.