Signs of Burnout

As a leader, you pay attention to charts, trends and profit and loss statements or you monitor usage and response and lives affected. All this data gives you valuable information that you act on with resolve.

Similarly, there are four trends that may point to a deteriorating personal situation. If you observe this change in behaviour and performance, start asking questions. Serious changes may be happening.

1 A loss of energy - We may sense a loss of physical, emotional or spiritual energy. We just don't have the get up and go that normally characterizes us. We are physically, emotionally or spiritually tired. And the sense of physical tiredness goes beyond just having a hard days work. It's something more pervasive. One day off or holiday doesn't bring that sense of re-invigoration.

2 A loss of involvement - We start to withdraw from things we would normally be involved in. Signs of job burnout may include withdrawing from people or from certain work situations to be alone. We almost express an indifference to projects, programs and causes that normally would engage our interests and passions. We may even find ourselves becoming cynical, irritated or seeing people as interruptions when it's not the case at all. We're going through the motions of leadership.

3 A loss of effectiveness - Our ability to perform as effectively as we once did is compromised. Our performance suffers. The quality of our work goes down. We're not a sharp as we normally are. Our decision-making isn't as crisp and decisive. Our communications are unclear and quality leadership is lacking. Others around us may be increasingly frustrated by our behaviors. Our burnout symptoms are beginning to affect them. It's not that you lack these skills but that seem unable to summon them when you need them.

4 A loss of health and a sense of well-being - stress weakens the immune system and our ability to fight off disease or minor health problems. You may have a sense of not just feeling as well as you normally do. That general feeling of malaise hangs on. We may experience any number of things happening to our body which don't seem to tie together and don't seem to have an explanation. Remember the effects of adrenaline: poor sleeping, aches and pains, stomach problems, unable to relax and a host of others. We just don't feel as well as we know we should be feeling.

Signs of burnout show up in different ways for different people. Ask questions. Suggest the individual talk to a doctor. Ask how you can help.

We Invite You to Contact Us

Over a number of years we have coached many leaders and executives experiencing overload and burnout. If you are experiencing these signs of burnout, an initial conversation will determine if and how we might assist you or point you to additional help.

Call our office at 705.687.2711 or email us here.

Share Your Experience with Burnout.

We'd like to hear your experiences dealing with burnout. Your insights may be helpful to someone else. What happened (briefly)? What do you feel were the contributing factors? How did you deal with burnout? What tips would you give to help others with avoiding burnout?

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