You Need to Know the Signs of Burnout

Lately, there has been a strong uptick in media attention surrounding the concept of quiet quitting. The most common definition is that?quiet quitting?is when an employee does the bare minimum just to collect a paycheck. Ironically, “getting by” has been something managers have combatted for hundreds of years;?we simply have a new name for it, and that name has gone viral.?

In many respects, quiet quitting is an outcome of employee burnout. The challenge with burnout is that it hurts not only those suffering from it, but also hurts other team members. A minimum effort from some on the team loads others with extra work, thereby increasing the likelihood of their burnout. A vicious cycle then ensues.???

To fully appreciate quiet quitting’s danger, contrast it with the power and optimism of employee engagement. Employee engagement is an employee’s positive emotional response to their employee experience, and it is manifested by observable behaviors such as increased discretionary effort and motivation, improved KPIs,?higher retention rates, and improved levels of satisfaction.?

Today’s featured discussion will focus on common signs that accompany burnout. In our next session, we will highlight tips and suggestions for managers to combat burnout in their teams.??

SIGNS OF BURNOUT

If you are experiencing any of these signs, you may be suffering from burnout:?

Exhaustion and Sleep Problems

You may notice a real sense of exhaustion, which can impact your normal sleep patterns. It’s not normal to be physically and emotionally exhausted. What is causing the distress???

Irritability

We all know that when we are stressed, we become irritable. To protect us, our brain’s limbic system takes over, and we process everything as a new threat, instead of seeing new opportunities, which may be rewarding and fun.???

Heightened Worry and Anxiety

Not only do you stop sleeping, but you fill the nighttime hours worrying about work. High anxiety and worry are common signs of burnout.?

Declining Performance

Burnout will cause you to miss things and make needless mistakes. One of my favorite supervisors would never allow us to work all-nighters. She would send us home by midnight or 1 am and ask that we come back by 6 am.?She would say, “Being overly tired is going to cause you to make mistakes, which will only hurt us more.”???

Short-term Focus

When you are simply trying to survive, the only thing that matters is what’s in front of you. Burnout zaps us of our ability to think about the long-term ramifications.

Cynicism, Disillusionment, or Numbness

We have all been here. Suddenly, what was once a great place to work, is an evil overlord or your boss is now a tyrant. Too much stress can dramatically alter our perceptions.?

Tension Headaches and other Physical Manifestations

Physical problems resulting from stress are real and damaging. Are you experiencing headaches regularly? Do you wake up with an upset stomach every morning??

Lack of Creativity and Innovation

Just like your long-term perspective goes away, creativity and innovation decline. The body must conserve energy, and the first thing it cuts is anything discretionary.

Lack of Motivation and Energy

Are you having trouble dragging yourself out of bed? Does everything feel like drudgery??

Increased use of Stimulants or Other Substances

If the wine is flowing at night, you might want to check your burnout levels.?

RECOGNIZING BURNOUT IN OTHERS

While these indicators are a good way to self-audit your status, if you are a leader, there are other ways to look for, or even anticipate, burnout in others.?Here are 10 basic questions that we recommend as part of regular team pulse surveys.???

1. My job makes me feel energized.??
2. I have enough energy to pursue non-work activities after work.??
3. I am not emotionally spent after work.??
4. I have positive feelings towards those I work with or serve.??
5. I care what happens to every client, customer, student, or patient.??
6. I treat others as individuals with unique needs.??
7. My job provides me with a sense of meaning and purpose.??
8. I find joy in being able to help those around me, including our clients, customers, students, or patients.
9. My work makes a difference.??
10. I am pleased with what I can do to help our clients, customers, students, or patients.?

As suggested, try using these questions, or a combination of them, in a brief survey the next time you sense burnout happening in your team. Getting ahead of burnout is a great way to fight off quiet quitting or to prevent key employees from going elsewhere.???

As noted, next time we will focus on tips and suggestions on how leaders and managers can combat burnout.??