This text was inspired by a Forbes article.
What burnout looks like
Burnout is a serious condition, usually caused by high stress levels, too heavy a workload or mental strain, either at work or in one's personal life. It takes a long time for an individual gradually to reach the point of burnout and this decline need not be visible; however, burnout itself is mostly an acute condition whereby the worker, in a relatively short span of time, falls into a state described below.
The typical signs of burnout include:
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loss of energy
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loss of interest in work agenda
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loss of interest in the future
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attacks of stress or even panic
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oblivion, cynicism
- negative thoughts and attitude
How to help the employee
If you detect signs of burnout in a subordinate, be it pending or ongoing, first of all you must insist they take a rest. Make them take some time off, at least a week or two. Apart from this short-term solution, focus also on the long term. Consider how you could offer the employee more flexibility and help them better balance their work and personal life. Conduct an audit of the work processes in your team, and see how you might protect individuals from having too much on their plate. Talk to the employee and find out what they need. In serious cases, offer professional help, such as a coach or a psychologist.
Recovery from burnout is a long-term process in which you need to be transparent and understanding, and maintain a constructive dialogue with the affected worker.
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