Managers are typically individuals who demonstrate commitment to their role. In the challenges they face, their commitment can lead them to overwork themselves. How to avoid burnout?
Common situations where there may be a risk of burnout include:
- Taking up the position (or a promotion)
- A lack of staff
- An unbalanced ratio of junior-experienced employees
In other words, the management challenges are numerous, motivating and very present! 🤯Then, let’s be honest, things like change, novelty, fuzzy expectations, the desire to please, and ambition are all things that can contribute to a great demand for energy.
If you’re constantly on the go, you can forget the most important thing.
Being constantly in action often results in being in RÉreaction, or transmitting vague expectations to work more hours, decrease your satisfaction, start to feel frustrated, etc.
The opposite could also be true: that is, not being enough in action. This can rather result in withdrawal from others or situations.
Being constantly in action, or on the contrary, inactive can be a source of exhaustion.
For my part, I’m more of the type of person who is too much in action than in inaction. In this short video, you will find a summary of the article and what I put together. I chose one of the strategies below.
Find more ideas by continuing the article.
Here are 4 strategies to avoid burning out
First strategy to avoid burning out: Make space
It is possible to make space on a physical, mental or emotional level.
- On a physical level: it’s about tidying up, cleaning.
- On an emotional level: it’s often about having the necessary conversations or making difficult decisions.
- On a mental level, you have to take stock and then free yourself by doing something that gives you energy.
Here are some questions to think about to take stock of your situation:
For those who are in action
- Why am I in a hurry?
- What is my role, and what is the priority?
- Who can help me?
- What am I trying to satisfy?
For those who are rather inactive or in my words: in extreme contemplation mode
- What is blocking me?
- What am I afraid of?
- If the worst happened, what solution would I find?
- What are the risks of the status quo?
- Who can help me?
If this can already reassure you: if you are in this position, it is because you are legitimate to be there.
You have probably demonstrated significant commitment. At the same time, you now have to learn not to take too much… especially if you are an expert in your field or you don’t have a team that fully supports you.
Or, maybe you need to get out of your comfort zone.
Second strategy: Get out of your comfort zone
Many expert managers do not take a step back enough and do not realize that their current behaviours are part of their comfort zone.
For example: doing more operations than the position requires.
What you need to understand is that in the management role, there is a constant evolution. There are always situations to let go of and new skills to develop.
But… letting go of a comfortable element creates a kind of void and if you don’t feel competent enough, for example to delegate, you will probably continue to do rather than have it done.
Which leads to the third strategy: directing your focus.
Being committed is good, but an exhausted manager is in no way mobilizing for his team. Often, it can even put pressure on his team. The team may think that’s what you expect from them.
So if you’re running everywhere, it’s better to use your time like this:
80% on what you control, 20% on what you can influence, 0% on what you don’t control.
Look for what you can control or influence, if not… Accept!
Finally, in the fourth strategy: Take care of yourself.
You know, we know it, you HAVE to take care of yourself.
Beyond the obligation… 😉 What would motivate you to take better care of yourself? More satisfaction? A more mobilized team? Time for your personal life?
Manage your energy consciously, and when the tank is empty, fill it up.
You don’t live your life on a line of credit 😊 You can use it when there’s an emergency. That’s what it’s for. The same goes for your energy tank.
Don’t overdo it all the time and know how to recharge your batteries.
In conclusion
It’s not negative to give yourself in a role. I did it. I didn’t exhaust myself, because I knew how to stop at the right time. I learned to focus on what I was controlling to reduce my stress, I found a network of people who understood me to share what I was going through, I changed the focus from working on my weaknesses to instead use my strengths and surround myself better.
Does this still happen to me? Of course! I am passionate and committed. I will remain so. I just use my tools and get through these times without burning out.
To go further:
- Need to understand the limits of your role and make a concrete plan? Take Self-Training: Manage and Lead with Agility
- Want to develop more in terms of emotion management?
- Article: Communicating your emotions
- Article: Having Difficult Conversations Easier
- Self-Training: Managing Stress and Emotions
Carry on!