How do you deal with team burnout and stress in a remote or hybrid work environment?

Team burnout and stress are common challenges for any group of people working together, but they can be especially acute in a remote or hybrid work environment. Without the regular face-to-face interactions, social support, and feedback that come with a physical office, remote and hybrid teams may struggle to cope with the demands, expectations, and uncertainties of their work. How can you deal with team burnout and stress in a remote or hybrid work environment? Here are some tips to help you and your team stay motivated, productive, and healthy.

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Selected by the community from 4 contributions. Learn more

1 Recognize the signs

If you or your team members are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or frustrated by your work, losing interest in tasks, or having difficulty concentrating, it may be a sign of burnout or stress. Other signs to look out for include feeling isolated, lonely, or disconnected from your team or organization, as well as physical and mental health issues such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety, or depression. If any of these signs are present, don't ignore them; it could mean that something needs to change in your work environment, habits, or expectations.

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Vrushali M.

Global Head, IS&T Governance | CGEIT, Strategy Implementation Professional (SIP)
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Burnout is not always linked to workload; it could be linked to making little or no impact at the workplace. Addressing burnout involves 1. Fostering open communication, 2. Regular one to one check-in and 3. The shift from quantity to quality (i.e. doing more impactful work)

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2 Communicate effectively

Effective communication is one of the most important factors for preventing and managing team burnout and stress. Communication is essential for building trust, collaboration, and alignment among remote and hybrid teams, as well as providing feedback, recognition, and support. To communicate effectively in a remote or hybrid work environment, you should utilize a variety of communication tools and channels, such as email, phone, video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management software. Additionally, establish clear and realistic goals, expectations, and deadlines for your work and your team's work; communicate them frequently and transparently. Give regular constructive feedback to your team members; encourage them to share their opinions, ideas, and concerns with you and each other. Recognize and celebrate your team's achievements, milestones, and successes; show appreciation for their efforts and contributions. Finally, be empathetic and respectful of your team members' diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and needs; avoid making assumptions or judgments based on limited information.

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3 Balance your workload

To avoid and reduce team burnout and stress, itâ€™s important to balance your workload and manage your time effectively. Remote and hybrid work can make it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as boundaries between work and personal life can become blurred, distractions or interruptions can increase, and it can be hard to switch off from work. To manage your time effectively, plan your work schedule and prioritize tasks according to their urgency and importance, and stick to it. Additionally, set and respect working hours and availability, communicate them clearly to team members and other stakeholders, take regular breaks throughout the day for rest, recharge, and refresh your mind, avoid multitasking or procrastinating, and delegate or outsource tasks that are not essential or that can be done more efficiently or effectively by someone else.

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Jerry D. Smith Jr., Psy.D.

Clinical Psychologist & Behavioral Health Consultant | Treatment, Building Trust, Conflict Resolution
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When balancing workload in remote settings, beware of overcompensation. You might feel pressured to prove your productivity, leading to self-imposed overwork. Don't underestimate the power of micro-breaks. Failing to step away from screens can lead to cognitive fatigue, reducing overall productivity. Watch out for digital presenteeism. Being constantly "available" online can create an unhealthy always-on culture. Be cautious of isolation-induced perfectionism. Without regular in-person feedback, you might obsess over details, causing unnecessary stress. Lastly, avoid neglecting physical workspace ergonomics. Poor setups at home can lead to physical strain, indirectly affecting mental well-being and work performance.

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4 Foster your well-being

The final tip for coping with team burnout and stress is to foster your well-being and resilience. Well-being and resilience are the abilities to cope with stress, adapt to change, and overcome challenges in a positive and constructive way. To nurture these abilities, regular physical activity such as walking, jogging, cycling, or yoga can boost energy, mood, and immunity. Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water nourishes the body and brain, while getting enough sleep and rest restores alertness, memory, and creativity. Mindfulness, meditation, or relaxation techniques can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and increase focus. Lastly, social support from family, friends, colleagues or professional help can be sought to share feelings, thoughts and experiences as well as receive advice, encouragement or comfort.

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5 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that donâ€™t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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William Wolff

Cloud Infrastructure Enterprise Account Manager at Oracle with expertise in driving cloud and hardware business
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Exercise before your first call or virtual meeting. If you donâ€™t want to move, at least shower every dayâ€¦ EARLY! Exercise and/or the shower will create an impact on your neural system. It will shake your sleepies out

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Dr. Rhonda Wells-Wilbon LCSW-C, LICSW

Professor & Interim Chair Doctoral Programs (PhD, DSW) School of Social Work, Morgan State University. Founder & CEO at Rhonda Wilbon Consulting LLC, Co-Founder & CTO at Empowered Wellness LLC
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We may like the flexibility of remote and hybrid jobs but it may require us to shift how we do other things. It can be difficult building relationships when working remotely and/or hybrid. Maintaining your own personal and professional relationships is important to help reduce feelings of isolation. Building a sense of community can be largely up to you to create these days.

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How do you deal with team burnout and stress in a remote or hybrid work environment?

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1 Recognize the signs

2 Communicate effectively

3 Balance your workload

4 Foster your well-being

5 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

Group Dynamics

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