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Are You a "Burned Out" Manager?

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Published: 23Aug2008
Word count: 475
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Responsibility for both the department's deliverables and managing employees can be challenging for any manager. Since you need to guide your team's well-being, make sure you are taking care of yourself.

Managers don't always want to acknowledge their own burnout feelings, yet all employees, no matter what role they play in the company, are potential candidates for "burnout."

What is Burnout? Merriam-Webster definition: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.

==>Symptoms of "Burnout"

--You've lost interest in your job

--Can't concentrate which means you are not producing

--Feel powerless to make any changes

--Feel anxious about coming to work

--Irritate with everyone around you - office and home

--Complaining a lot about your job

--Distance yourself from others

--Just don't care anymore

Note: By the way, your employees know when you are on the verge of burnout. They will react which will only add more challenges to your plate. So it's important to start addressing your discord around work.

If you are concerned that you may be burned out, take the time to question what is happening in your job. Here is my suggestion:

This is a perfect time to take a "sick day." Use this day to figure out just what is not working for you. Ask yourself where you are in the burned out scale: quietly harboring some issues or in full-blown "burnout" Where are you?

==>You basically enjoy your job:

--You need a vacation from thinking about work...schedule your vacation immediately

--You have some issues stressing you at work and you want to start resolving them.

--You still have energy to do your job, though you may have a lot of demands on you and need to take the time to prioritize them.

==>You hate your job:

--Then you need to write down everything that is not working for you at your job. Don't stop; just write whatever comes to your mind. For example, hate my boss when he/she does (fill in the blanks), not making enough money, too many employee issues, afraid I'm going to lose my job, hate my office, don't like the people I work with, hate the long hours, chronic downsizing. Write whatever comes to you mind...don't hesitate.

--Next to each issue, write the reason(s) why this is making you stressed and unhappy.

--Then put all your issues in the order of the most stressful (being #1).

--Then start to brainstorm how you can resolve them -- your top stressors.

--If you are in serious "burn out" mode, then doing the above exercise may be too much to do alone...find a coach to help you. Get the support that you need to handle your "burn out."

It's critical to your wellbeing and to your career to resolve burnout...no matter where you are in the "burnout" scale.

Pat Brill is the author of the blog "Managing Employees" http://www.ManagingEmployees.net . You can reach her at pat@managingemployees.net.

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