There’s two parts of that title: how to lead employees when you’re in burnout and how to lead employees who are in burnout. Let’s tackle them separately, even though they’re pretty linked together.
But before we even kick that off, here’s our definition of burnout.
When you’re in burnout
When one is in burnout, their emotional capacity is low. Anyone who has been in leadership for more than a hot minute can tell you that you need a ton of emotional capacity to be a leader. So, obviously, this is an issue.
Some quick tips:
- If you’re on a leadership team, strategize with them about how to tackle your own burnout. Find space for the Four Rs and increase your emotional capacity.
- Remember that your team is full of humans, not walking sets of problems. Do everything you can to keep that forefront.
- Leadership is about providing an environment for your team to do their best work. Take a moment to make sure you’re doing all of that and realize that the bare minimum is okay while you’re sorting yourself out.
- Oh, and remember you’re not useless, even when your brain tells you that you are. We promise.
When your employees are burnt out
In all the burnout literature out there (except our book), it’s assumed that burnout only happens at work. It’s not true – burnout can happen anywhere people expect things from you on a schedule. So employees may either be burned out at work or bring their burnout to work. And research shows that it’s not only the folks telling you that they’re burned out. To be honest, most people who are burned out don’t flag it with their employers because they don’t even know they are in that state.
But let’s assume your employee has come to you and said “I’m burned out”. What do you do? Here’s some ideas:
- Ask what they need. If what they need is doable, then give it to them. If it’s not, work towards a compromise.
- Don’t tell them to snap out of it, or send them on vacation as the solution. Go through the Four R’s and help them come up with a plan for implementation.
- Stress that their worth as a human is not tied up in their production for the company.
Also? Pack your patience pants. Just like any other element of leadership, this can be a doozy. Take care of yourself as you take care of others.
Have you led anyone in burnout? What worked for you and what didn’t? We’d love to know.
In the meantime, if you want to learn more about our tips and insights on burnout, sign up for our newsletter HERE.
