Helping Your Team Move From Burnout To Break Through As A Leader

The World Health Organization has placed burnout in its International Classification of Diseases diagnostic manual. While not calling it an “illness,” they classified this occupational hazard as a condition that needs more research, attention, and awareness to help workers who are constantly feeling overwhelmed by stress at work manage their daily lives better so they can return home safe after long days.

In the wake of a pandemic, workplace engagement and stress management practices have been upended by new challenges. Leaders now struggle to manage remote teams while developing widely disparate strategies in disrupted marketplaces–and they’re dealing with an uncertain economy too.

Moving from burnout into the breakthrough where employees can handle these difficult emotions can be significantly aided by employing wise, compassionate management techniques. A manager who uses this approach will provide support and allow workers time off work to be refreshed before tackling another challenging situation or event.

These managers must employ the following practices to pull their team through the tough burnout phase:

1. Understand Your Own Reactions To Stressful Situations

It’s essential to recognize how you respond when things get challenging at work. Are you quick to anger? Do you jump to conclusions? Do you feel hopeless and helpless? If so, it may be time for you to take a break and let your emotions cool down. Remember, you can’t fix everything right away, but you can make sure you don’t take on more than you can handle.

2. Create A Clear Goal And Strategy

Burnout happens when people don’t know what to do next, so they’re left without direction. Managers need to create a plan and give clear expectations about the future. This will help everyone stay focused on their tasks and goals.

3. Make Time For Reflection

When things go wrong, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and forget why we’re doing what we’re doing. It’s essential to pause, reflect and review our decisions and actions. You might want to write them down and read them back. Then you’ll have a record of what happened so that you can learn from it.

4. Ask For Feedback

When you ask for feedback, people will likely tell you something you didn’t realize. When you’re feeling stressed and frustrated, it’s hard to hear what others think because you’re too busy thinking about yourself. However, if you take the time to ask someone for their opinion, they’re more likely to give you useful advice.

5. Find Balance

Burnout is like an avalanche. The first thing you should do when you see one coming is stop. Don’t try to fight it. Instead, find someplace to sit out of harm’s way until it passes. There’s no shame in taking a break when you need one.

6. Take Care Of Yourself

You’ve got to take care of yourself. Eating well and getting enough sleep will help you deal with stress. So will exercise. Try yoga or meditation. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. And if you’re finding it difficult to eat, talk to your nutritionist.

7. Team Up

If you’re struggling, there’s strength in numbers. Get together with other leaders and share your experiences. They might have insights that could help you.

8. Learn From Your Mistakes

Mistakes happen. No one’s perfect. But you can learn from them. Just keep trying, even when you feel like giving up.

9. Let Your Team Lead

Everyone wants to be seen as a leader. So, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s tempting to step in and take control. Resist the urge. Listen to your team members. Give them the chance to show you what they can do.

10. Take Help From A Leadership Coach 

Sometimes, all you need is someone to hold your hand. A leadership coach can offer guidance, support, and encouragement during this difficult time. They can also help you figure out what you want to do next. Coaches like Stavros Baroutas can help you take that crucial leap from being just another person on an organizational ladder up towards someone your team looks up to with complete confidence and approval. 

The management skills of Baroutas have been recognized worldwide. After earning an MBA from Kingston University in the United Kingdom, he received his Ph.D. He became a Chartered Manager (CMgr) for leading people to change with Chartered Management Institute program. Baroutas is a certified Innermetrix Consultant for Greece and has also trained under John Mattone as an Intelligent Leadership Executive Coach. 

Conclusion

Leaders who use these techniques will help their teams move from burnout to breakthrough. Doing so will reduce the risk of employee disengagement and increase productivity. As the world enters a new era of uncertainty, we can only hope that this pandemic teaches us to be kinder and more compassionate toward each other.

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