FIVE CAUSES OF BURNOUT
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THEM
Still hanging tough … kinda just cruising along … on automatic pilot, until you’re absolutely convinced “things” have turned around once and for sure?
Many folks are. So they’re not pushing all that hard right now.
Or at least they think that’s what they’re doing.
But there’s one concern that’s often neglected in these days of operating in a “lean” personal and professional style: It may well be, without even realizing it, in the face of the hanging tough mindset, we are at greater risk of being overburdened with our worries and concerns.
And that kind of mental load can have a devastating impact on both family harmony and the business bottom line.
Kudos to you if you’ve hung in there this far. Don’t fall victim to “burnout” this close to the finish line.
TGIM ACTION IDEA: “When the going gets tough ….” Well, you know.
TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Don’t brush aside your trepidation about the days ahead. Investigate and acknowledge sources of stress. Then discover (and share with others) how to alleviate these potential causes of mental fatigue and burnout.
Here are five common burnout flash points and what can be done to “get going” on them.
#1: Doing too much work. Why do we hold overachievers in such high esteem? Perhaps because they rarely voice complaints, managing the rigors of an extra-heavy workload with apparent ease.
But don’t kid yourself. Stuck in the status quo and doing too much of the same thing for too long can result in world weariness and feelings of hopelessness for even the most stalwart overachievers among us.
One tell-tale sign: When hairline cracks begin to show. Such as: The curt response to or from a usually civil spouse or coworker. The little foolish error on a task previously done perfectly multiple times.
Your move: Look for ways to lighten or add spice to the overachieving load. Reshuffle responsibilities. Use the newness factor to accomplish more with less chance of burnout.
To satisfy the overachiever mindset but achieve more, more successfully, take on the new, most stimulating tasks by handing off the jobs you’ve mastered. Assign them to others – subordinates, your kids, the new club member -- for whom they will be new and a learning experience.
Or – if you can’t share at least some part of your routine – counter the overachiever burnout factor by attempting old things in a new order, or at a new time or perhaps in a new way.
#2: Lack of challenge. Oddly, the converse of overachieving – not having enough challenging work – can also result in burnout.
Once work and life ceases to be challenging, it’s human nature to become uninterested and bored. And to further complicate matters, if you’re a boss keeping an eye peeled for employee burnout, the under-challenged employee is not likely to call attention to that situation.
Your move: Be vigilant. Create your own stimulus package. When life or business slows, seek out new motivators, for yourself and for others if you can help in that regard.
Make opportunities; don’t be content to coast. Ask for new responsibilities if you must. Believe in the stimulating strength of “new” – new challenges, new opportunities. The more strides you make along the path of lifelong learning, the more interested and interesting you become.
#3: Unclear goals. Sure, everyone wants to excel at their work and their life relationships. But people also need to know in no uncertain terms what’s expected of them. It’s at the core of good goal setting.
Coasting along with only vague and fuzzy objectives produces vague and fuzzy feelings that can be even more debilitating than driving relentlessly to achieve an overly high standard.
Your move: Even if they are currently not all that growth oriented, be sure goals and objectives are S.M.A.R.T. That mnemonic is usually understood to stand for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Specific.
The point is: These qualities beat burnout by creating a motivating situation where – with the encouragement and support of others -- expectations and steps forward are quantified, improvement can be measured, and accomplishments along the way acknowledged.
#4: Lack of personal and professional fulfillment. Without continued growth, both personal and professional, people quickly stagnate. Today’s “paused” situation may produce that result.
Your move: Get out into the world and excite all your senses and inspire your sense of self with exposure to stimulating experiences. Be interested in others. Be interesting to others.
And be proactive in learning new skills or expanding those you already possess, whether it’s in a formal classroom setting or simply by self-education. The feedback loop of “education” affords burnout-busting benefits to all parties in the circle.
Bonus move: Teach as well as be taught. Make sure you’re in a place in your company or community where you share what you know and can share in the experiences, reaction and feedback of the newly informed.
#5: Make room to grow. Sometimes being stuck in the status quo is enervating (especially when you’re “hanging tough” and reluctant to attempt any change until the fog has cleared somewhat). You feel it’s hard to move to the next level.
But “up” isn’t necessarily the only way to grow.
Your move: Extend your horizons. Use this opportunity to expand the parameters of your current situation. Break out of confining definitions of who you are and what you do.
Grow in wisdom and influence. Beat the burnout blahs by discovering what others do well in areas where you are not now expert. Battle back against mental lassitude by endeavoring to reach that level of accomplishment yourself.
Payoff: Imagine being the corporate numbers person who has as effective a 30-second commercial as the best salesperson in the joint. Visualize the respect you’d gain as the PTA parent who also has the social media skills to blog, tweet and otherwise communicate most successfully about your community’s educational concerns.
Bonus move: Again, share your strengths and exchange skill-building strategies with others, and everyone derives some of the burnout-beating benefits.
Hoping these battling burnout ideas catch fire with you.
Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing
8 Depot Square
P.S. “Men weary as much of not doing the things they want to do as of doing the things they do not want to do.” Longshoreman and philosopher Eric Hoffer (1902 – 1983) also said that.
GEOFF STECK leads Alexander Publishing & Marketing, a company he formed in 1986. The core AP&M mission: To create and publish leadership, sales mastery, self-improvement and workplace skill-building resources and tools. The focus: Areas such as business communication, staff support, customer care and frontline management. Geoff also puts his corporate and entrepreneurial experience, independent perspective, and skills as a catalyst to work for other firms (ranging from multinational corporations to more modest operations), not-for-profits, and individuals who have conceived or developed programs or initiatives but are frustrated in getting them implemented.
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