Work, family obligations, personal responsibilities, and commitments outside of work can leave your team feeling drained and unmotivated. When this happens, burnout can occur–a terrible cycle of stress that continues to grow in modern workplaces. For businesses, this contributes to lower morale, higher absenteeism and turnover, and reduced innovation and customer service.

That's why it's important for managers to organize practical activities that will help team members recharge and reconnect. One way to do this is through business skills training programs that equip employees with the skills to better manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Identifying the Hidden Signs

People deal with burnout in different ways, but there are common signs to look out for. Here are some of them:

Exhaustion

When an employee seems perpetually tired and drained, even though work is just about to start, they could be experiencing burnout. Overwhelming demands on their time and energy are taking a toll.

Declining Performance

Employees experiencing burnout may find it difficult to focus and complete tasks efficiently. Simple jobs that used to be easy for them now seem challenging and take longer to finish. They become less productive and the quality of their work declines.

Feelings of Dread and Lack of Motivation

Feelings of dread, lack of motivation, and distress are common signs of burnout in a previously motivated employee. What was once an enjoyable job becomes a chore, and even simple tasks seem overwhelming. The employee may call in sick more often or seem disengaged during work hours. Previously reliable performance declines as the employee finds it hard to focus and finish work on time.

Cynicism and Irritability

Irritability and cynicism toward customers, colleagues, and the company itself are telltale signs of burnout. Simple interactions that used to be pleasant now seem frustrating and the employee may make negative comments more often.

Other less obvious signs

Apart from these more overt signs, there are subtler symptoms of burnout to watch out for:

• Social withdrawal and isolating oneself
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, low immunity
• Increased alcohol or substance use
• Relationship problems

As a manager, you play a crucial role in recognizing the early signs of burnout and taking proactive steps to address it. The good news is that burnout can be reversed with timely intervention and adjustments in the work environment. One effective approach is by implementing training for improving time management skills. This is a valuable way to help employees prioritize tasks, set boundaries, and manage their time effectively, which can significantly reduce stress and prevent burnout.

Meanwhile, negotiation skills training empowers team members to communicate their needs, manage expectations, and advocate for realistic workloads, fostering a healthier and more balanced work environment.

Make it clear to your team that preventing burnout is a priority. Ask employees how you can help and make changes that improve the work environment. With a more sustainable pace and workload, your team's performance, motivation, and well-being will improve.

Effective Tips For Burnout Management In Teams

As a manager, you have a huge responsibility to look after the well-being of your team members. Here are the steps you can take:

Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Discuss with employees the importance of separating work and personal life to avoid burnout. Explain that checking work emails or responding to messages outside of work hours should be avoided. Consider instituting a formal "no work email after hours" policy.

Encourage employees to take their paid time off. Remind employees regularly to use their accrued vacation days. Make it clear that using vacation days as intended will not negatively impact performance reviews or opportunities for advancement. Set an example by taking your own vacation time.

Set realistic goals and workload expectations. Avoid shifting priorities and last-minute requests that add stress and strain. Work with employees to set reasonable goals and deadlines that allow for breaks and time away from work.

Promote a healthy work-life balance. As a manager, serve as a role model by taking your own breaks and vacations. Discuss the importance of activities outside of work that promote wellbeing, like exercising, spending time with family and pursuing hobbies.

Provide opportunities for development and growth. Regularly provide opportunities for employees to develop new skills and take on different tasks that help them avoid boredom and burnout. Consider training programs, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and rotation of duties within teams. Challenge employees with projects that stretch their abilities and help them build skills for future roles and promotions.

Check in regularly. Check-in with employees on a monthly or quarterly basis through one-on-one meetings. Ask open-ended questions to gauge how they are coping with work demands and whether the current workload feels manageable. Listen carefully for any signs of stress, burnout, or being overwhelmed. Take employee concerns seriously and be prepared to adjust responsibilities, deadlines, or staffing levels promptly in response to issues raised. Thank employees for bringing concerns to your attention.

Remember, employees who feel supported and challenged in their roles are more likely to stay with the company longer. They feel valued and motivated to do their best work.

In addition, this higher performance directly benefits the business through increased revenue, profits and customer satisfaction. In turn, the business is able to provide more opportunities for employees to grow and advance their careers. It's a virtuous cycle that results when a business prioritizes the well-being of its people through proactive burnout management.

Effective Tips for Burnout Management in Teams

Long-Term Solutions for a Healthy Workplace

While the solutions mentioned above are helpful in the short term, businesses also need to consider long-term changes to truly build a sustainable workplace. Here are some of them:

Adequate Business Skills Training

Did you know that efficient workplace training sessions that improve your business skills can significantly boost employee morale and engagement? This enhanced engagement among team members is crucial in ensuring that each member of the team gets the support they need to complete their tasks, reducing the likelihood of burnout.

This is where Intellezy's video training for leadership and mental health management becomes really helpful. Through our comprehensive online video courses, businesses can equip managers and team leaders with the skills to identify burnout symptoms early, implement changes to reduce workloads, foster a healthy work culture and empower employees with strategies for managing stress and boosting resilience.

Revamp Your Performance Review Processes

If your current process is not helping employees reduce workload or improve work-life balance, consider revising it. Focus performance reviews on employees' well-being and growth instead of just metrics and targets. Ask employees how the company can support them better.

Offer Benefits for Mental Health

Make employee well-being a priority by offering benefits like Employee Assistance Programs, mental health coverage, meditation apps and subsidized gym memberships. These proactive measures go a long way towards building resilience against stress and burnout.

Improve Communication Channels

Be transparent with employees about your burnout management strategies. Encourage them to share issues or concerns without hesitation. Have regular check-ins with team members to see how their workloads are and whether they need any adjustments. Opt for more informal communication channels like group chats along with the usual emails and meetings.

Set Monthly Wellbeing Goals

Monitor the effectiveness of your burnout management strategies by setting quantifiable well-being goals each month. These could include reducing overtime hours, increasing the number of mental health days taken or lowering employee stress levels (based on surveys). Track your progress and make timely changes wherever needed.

Burnout is a complex issue that won't disappear overnight. But with consistent efforts to improve workplace culture, implement reasonable workloads and empower employees to manage stress, your organization can certainly build resilience against the burnout epidemic and foster a truly healthy environment for success.

Conclusion: The Business Benefits

Burnout is not just a problem for your employees' well-being–it also negatively impacts your business results. Make burnout management a strategic priority for the long-term success of your organization. Implement changes that empower employees, improve processes and foster a truly healthy culture at work. The business benefits will follow naturally when your people feel energized, engaged and able to do their best work.

You have the power to create a healthier, more resilient workplace with Intellezy’s comprehensive business skills training programs. Equip your managers and team leaders to identify burnout early, implement meaningful changes, and support your team's success.