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🥺 This week: Are your employees showing signs of burnout? They may not always show it.

9 Ways to Recognize Employee Burnout

Quiz: Which of these employee are feeling burnout?

The answer: They all are. You cannot tell simply by looking. People show and internalize burnout differently. You have to go beyond what they show outwardly. You have to look for early clues and make changes.

📙 Report: Startup Working Hours: Burnout, Pacing, and Hustle Culture - Karl Hughes

Be aware of these factors that cause burnout:

#1 Constant and unexpected changes with moving goal posts

#2 Uncertainty about the work and the future of the company

#3 Unsteadiness in direction or leadership

#4 Lack of reward for work done including raises, promotions, or simple recognition

$5 Too much work for too long with limited challenge and growth

#6 Expectations that are too high for capabilities and resources

$7 Doing the same work for a long time, too routine for too long

#8 Feeling of unfair work distribution and recognition

#9 Lack of being heard and understood

Look for very early signs of burnout:

#1 Reduced productivity from the team or team member

#2 People turning off and no longer listening

#3 People starting late or ending their work day early more often

#4 Missed deadlines, unfinished work, and reduced quality

#5 Lack of responsiveness to changing needs

#6 Reduction in energy and passion

#7 Talk about resigning or how much better other opportunities sound

#8 Increased frustration and more resistance within the team

#9 Avoiding you, not sharing, no eye contact with you

📙 Report: How Our Startup Beat Burnout - Alex Turnbull

Next week we dig into ways to avoid and reduce employee burnout before it is too late

It’s Not Just About Work

Employee burnout can come from outside of work. You can only do so much if this is the case, but look for ways you can help.

Causes of burnout outside of work:

#1 Lack of social contact, relaxation, and physical activity

#2 Life changes including recent relocation, a new baby, family stress, children moving away, or divorce

#3 Financial pressures

#4 Physical and medical concerns

#4 Drug or alcohol issues

#5 Lack of sleep

#6 Personality traits such as perfectionist, pessimistic views, controlling, Type A

Addressing Burnout

Some solutions to avoid and solve employee burnout

(Much more in part 2 next week)

1. Talk to them openly about your environment, workloads, and how they feel

   • Mutually look for solutions and make improvements

   • Build engagement and openness within the team every day

   • Be open yourself

2. Recognize change and understand how this impacts employees

   • Make this part of your change plan

   • Involve them in the change

3. Openly recognize their work and provide routine rewards

4. Bonus tip - Hire people that are a fit for your environment (more next week)

📙 Exceptional report: Bye Bye Burnout: Four Ways to Keep Employees Engaged and Avoid Burnout - Giselle Jenkins

📙 Recommended Reading

“The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It”

By Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter

Parting Thought

You Can Help

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