Engaged employees have a significant impact on business outcomes by being motivated, enthusiastic, and concentrated. Engaged employees derive satisfaction from their work and contribute to increased productivity, performance, morale, and growth.
However, burnout can happen when highly engaged employees begin to have low well-being due to unmanaged personal and/or workplace stressors. To be burned out at work, an employee has to be highly engaged. The employee has to be all in and care deeply about their work to get to the point of feeling burned out. This means top-performing, highly engaged employees are at the highest risk for burnout.
If engaged employees do not receive support from a manager or the ability to handle stressors on their own, they may eventually experience burnout, which can have significant consequences. This includes reduced productivity and a higher rate of employee turnover, particularly among highly skilled and productive individuals that employers cannot afford to let go.
Ways to prevent and reduce burnout
Employers can effectively prevent their top talent from burning out by providing strong manager support and recognizing the causes of job burnout. This means that burnout is essentially preventable, which is a positive development.
1. Prioritize employee well-being and stress management
There is a clear absence of well-being in many workplaces, which is causing numerous employees to suffer from burnout. Well-being refers to a state of physical, emotional, and financial wellness. When employees lack well-being, it becomes harder for them to cope with stress, consequently raising the likelihood of experiencing burnout.
Employers desire to promote engagement is clear, however, there is a lack of knowledge on how to simultaneously foster high engagement and high well-being. Engagement is driven by employee well-being, and vice versa. Engaged employees experience a positive outlook and a sense of purpose in their work.
2. Authentically support both managers and employees
The role of managers is crucial in ensuring that employees have a positive experience. They are responsible not only for guiding the employee’s career path but also for instilling the values and culture of the company. It is essential for companies to support managers in comprehending this aspect, which goes beyond mere well-being.
According to a Gallup report, managers have a significant impact on employee engagement as they contribute to up to 70% of the differences observed in employee engagement. The report also states that employees who rate their manager as excellent are five times more engaged compared to those who rate their manager as poor.
Based on research conducted by Limeade and Quantum Workplace, it is recommended to include these drivers:
- Maintaining a reasonable number of work hours
- Realizing personal potential and learning new things
- Using their greatest strengths
- Fitting professional abilities with role and responsibilities
- Feeling valued and respected
- Feeling supported by a manager and organizational support
By striving to create such conditions for their employees, managers increase the chances of having employees with high well-being and genuine engagement, while also actively reducing the risk of employee burnout.
Supporting employees is the best approach to foster employee engagement and well-being. Directing attention towards managers is one of the most effective strategies for supporting employees. Managers can utilize this complimentary worksheet as a tool for identifying signs of burnout in their subordinates.
3. Provide recovery time and breaks
Taking breaks is necessary for everyone to recuperate. When employees push themselves to their limits at work, it not only hampers productivity but also brings about burnout. Therefore, it is important for managers to modify workloads, establish achievable expectations, and recognize when someone has been operating at full capacity for an extended period.
In order to effectively address burnout, it is important for managers to not only rely on recovery time or breaks to alleviate symptoms, but to also attend to the underlying causes.
It is important for managers to have weekly one-on-one meetings with their direct reports. During these meetings, managers should ensure to inquire about the well-being of the employees and promptly resolve any arising issues. It is also crucial to develop a plan that enables employees to accomplish their goals, with emphasis on maintaining a balance.
In order to achieve that balance, managers must remain vigilant for indications of excessive absenteeism and take action if it happens. Keeping up with the regular workload is one of the most effective strategies to prevent employees from being overwhelmed with tasks. However, this becomes challenging if employees frequently miss an excessive amount of work hours.
4. Allow employees to set boundaries
The way individuals perceive stressors influences their capacity to manage and rebound from them. The experience of stress varies among individuals as it is subjective. While stress can invigorate and invigorate some people, it can paralyze others. Recognizing how employees perceive stress enables managers to assist them in coping effectively and avoiding burnout.
By identifying limits and acknowledging emotions, employees should be empowered to establish emotional boundaries with their work. Without these boundaries, employees may experience overwhelming disappointment upon receiving constructive criticism. When leaders or executives prioritize the enhancement of well-being, employees are more likely to embrace such efforts.
Assist employees in discovering their optimal level of stress. Positive stress, also known as acute stress, helps individuals stay alert and prepared to overcome challenges. In contrast, negative stress, or chronic stress, along with our reaction to it, can result in various physical and mental health issues. Urge employees to depart one hour earlier following a particularly demanding day or to take breaks whenever necessary.
5. Find ways to make work more fun or interesting
When it comes to advertising and design, engaging projects can help relieve the challenges of a busy schedule. Although you may be occupied, the enjoyment you experience makes it insignificant. Burnout tends to occur when you are overworking on projects that lack inspiration. In such situations, seek methods to infuse more enjoyment into the tasks you are handling.
One creative approach used by copywriters and art directors is to challenge each other to get specific words or phrases into the ads, like trying to get “hot air balloon” or “goat rodeo” into dry copy about insurance. Make it a game regardless of the outcome. It may get rejected. It may pass without anyone noticing. It may even sell more product.
6. Work away from your desk
Even if you’re still working 12-hour shifts seven days a week, a change of scenery can be incredibly beneficial. If you’re seeking inspiration, many ad agencies will allow you to work remotely occasionally. Look for a nearby coffee shop, museum, or park.
It is best to avoid working from home. If you are feeling burnt out, it is crucial to make a conscious effort to keep your work life separate from your home life. The worst thing you can do is bring your work home with you. This only worsens the issue, eventually making you associate your home with the same negative emotions you experience at work. Therefore, it is essential to set a clear boundary and not exceed it.
7. Find a release
If you don’t find ways to relieve burnout, it can eventually manifest as overwhelming stress. Without periodically releasing this tension, you risk experiencing emotional breakdowns, outbursts, or engaging in behaviors that may negatively impact your professional trajectory.
For stress relief, physical activity is generally considered ideal. Some individuals prefer activities like CrossFit or martial arts.
People have various ways to release their aggression and frustration, such as engaging in paintball battles, soccer, racquetball, or bowling. While many individuals enjoy video games, others find solace in activities like visiting a shooting range or swimming a dozen laps in the pool. The specific method chosen to release pent-up emotions is unimportant, as long as it does not pose harm to oneself or others. The crucial aspect is finding a suitable outlet to relieve stress.
8. Take advantage of the FMLA laws
The Family and Medical Leave Act, also known as FMLA, is a federal law that provides specific employees with the assurance of job security for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually. This leave is typically taken during significant life events, such as the arrival of a new child or experiencing a serious illness. However, it is worth noting that severe burnout and mental stress can also be valid grounds for utilizing FMLA safeguards.
In order to address your situation, follow these steps: consult a doctor or psychologist to discuss your condition, provide an explanation of the current circumstances, and obtain documented evidence stating your inability to perform your duties effectively due to stress, burnout, and anxiety. Keep in mind that the leave granted may be without pay, thus, consider carefully the duration of time off you require. Generally, taking a four-week break should be sufficient to recharge and restore your previous state.
9. Get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well
When we experience stress, it is a natural tendency to seek ways to relax and find solace. For a large number of individuals, this includes indulging in comfort foods, consuming alcoholic beverages, and reclining on the couch to watch TV series continuously.
Engaging in those activities seldom leads to the resolution of burnout and, in reality, can exacerbate your feeling. Refrain from grabbing the chips and remote control. Instead, devise a strategy to enhance physical activity and consume nutritious meals. Ensure to get a satisfactory eight hours of sleep each night. By following this routine for a few weeks or even months, you will experience a sense of readiness and determination to face any challenge.
10. Build social connections
People have a natural inclination to be social, and it is beneficial for us to depend on others for assistance. Social support, in fact, has a positive correlation with essential aspects that affect stress, health, well-being, and engagement.
By enhancing team support and social networks, employers can foster community among employees, enabling them to receive the necessary support and prevent burnout.
Encourage employees to establish a weekly schedule for connecting with a friend, family member, or colleague and challenge them to devise a plan for doing so.
To prevent work burnout and enhance team connectivity, it is advisable to include various activities such as scheduling weekly team lunches, organizing walking meetings, planning team-building activities or happy hours. These initiatives will help celebrate employees and foster a refreshed and rejuvenated work environment, ultimately improving morale and promoting a sense of connection among team members.
Developing both internal and external connections is crucial for enhancing well-being and ultimately mitigating burnout. It is imperative for employees and managers to deeply engage with their tasks, regardless of whether they’re at work or outside of working hours.
