Here's how you can identify and address burnout in the workplace.
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place. In the workplace, burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give. The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of lifeâincluding your home, work, and social life. Burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. Because of its many consequences, it's important to deal with burnout right away.
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Open dialogue:Encourage open conversations about burnout. When leaders share their own struggles, it destigmatizes the issue and invites others to seek help and express concerns, fostering a supportive workplace culture.
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Story sharing:Promote an environment where everyone, especially leaders, shares personal experiences with burnout. This openness makes it easier for employees to voice their own challenges and supports a culture of mutual understanding and care.