Control, stress, and burnout are popular topics in today’s hectic workplace. Too little stress and life is bland and dull. And, too much stress can lead to burnout.
So — here’s the question:
What should leaders know about stress and burnout for their own well-being and that of colleagues and staff?
What leaders and in fact everyone in the workplace need to know is how important it is to actively seek out ways to avoid their own burnout, and to actively help others to avoid it as well. Once burnout has occurred, current research suggests that recovery can be long and complicated. In fact, when burnout is severe, time away from work may be required before a person can return to his or her previous level of performance.
As a general rule, keep these thoughts in mind:
- Control what you can, don’t buy into nonsense that is distracting, and continually ask yourself how to make the workplace more relaxed and conducive to high performance.
- Think before you act or say something you may later regret. “Common sense” and good judgment are still key but often missing ingredients in the workplace.
- Reject the myth that out of chaos comes success. Adrenaline rush can be addictive and many people who watch more movies than read workplace performance literature can begin to manage like The Wolf of Wall Street versus using a less exciting but well researched approach that includes planning, following up, learning from mistakes, and moving on — all elements important to keeping things orderly and creating a high performance workplace.
Coping Strategies . . .
Here are some key coping strategies. Practice them to help you manage your own stress and to set the “right” example for your staff, teammates, and colleagues.
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Know your limits.
Focus on accomplishing what is important leaving behind the many nice to do but unessential tasks associated with work. No one can do everything and trying to be everything to everyone often leads to nothing getting done or everything getting done poorly. Either way, it’s self-defeating and a source of unneeded stress
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Keep your emotions in check.
Self regulate and set a tone of mutual respect. Your mood affects the mood of the entire organization. Unchecked emotions and tension brings everyone down and sets the stage to encourage burnout rather than reduce it.
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Keep things in perspective.
It’s easy to get caught up in the drama that’s playing around you every day at work. So before you get sucked in, step back, take a deep breath, and carefully consider the best way to proceed. You may not be able to change “the situation” but you can change the way you react to it!
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Connect
Touch base frequently with your own boss and key colleagues across the organization to make sure you are focusing your energy and your team’s energy and hard work on achieving the goals most necessary. It’s easy to feel lost and to get lost! Stay centered by staying connected!
Additional Insights . . .
Want to learn more? Here are a few resources that provide concrete professional information on the topic of stress, burnout, and how to handle these issues in an informed way — as a leader and individual contributor.
Additional Reading
- Do not confuse stress with burnout. Read this brief article to lean how they are different.Dealing With Burnout, Which Doesn’t Always Stem From Overwork
YouTube Videos
Leaders who feel that stress and burnout are real issues in their workplace, should use these resources to get conversations going and to take action.
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- Consider sending this video to your team members before having a discussion on issues of stress and potential burnout at work. It is short, non- technical, and practical, and therefore likely to get people on the same page quickly and efficiently.
Are You Suffering From Job Burnout? - For a more indepth discussion of burnout — or if you are considering presenting on the subject to your team — you might find this talk, presented in March, 2014, helpful. It will inform your understanding of workplace stress, burnout, and post-traumatic stress. The speaker is an expert with wisdom and knowledgeBurnout and post-traumatic stress disorder: Dr. Geri Puleo
- Consider sending this video to your team members before having a discussion on issues of stress and potential burnout at work. It is short, non- technical, and practical, and therefore likely to get people on the same page quickly and efficiently.