How to Avoid Employee Burnout
Anyone and everyone is vulnerable to burnout. This state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion can occur for any number of reasons. As an employer, it is your job to be on the lookout for signs and stop it before you lose a talented employee.
Below are some tips on how to prevent, spot and stop burnout in its tracks.
Know the Signs
While burnout can take on many forms, the common signs include:
- Lack of motivation
- Frustration
- Impatience
- Cynicism
- Changes in attendance
Check in with Your Team
Once you begin to notice any of these signs, it is time to act. Try scheduling a one-on-one meeting to discuss any issues and make sure your employee feels heard and acknowledged. This meeting can also help you determine the cause of their frustrations; you can’t fix the issue until you know what is causing it.
Don’t Overload Your Employees
This can help you stop burnouts before they start. While giving your staff members new responsibilities can help them grow, make sure you are not giving them more than they can handle. Try to spread out the duties evenly and monitor how each employee reacts to their new role.
Let Them be Creative
This can come from interesting side projects or allowing employees more leeway in their current projects. Wherever it comes from, allowing employees to be creative helps keep their minds sharp, increases their motivation and keeps them engaged.
Emphasize Wellness
Creativity helps with their mental health; promoting exercise helps employees improve their physical health. Workplaces have found success by offering health initiatives such as gym discounts or incentives to attend fitness classes.
Recognize the Employees Who Go Above and Beyond
Don’t forget that recognition is important. An employee who has been going the extra mile deserves to know that you have noticed and appreciate their hard work. This can be done through an employee of the month program or even a simple shout out in a meeting.
Working 40 hours a week is tiring for anyone. As the manager, it is your job to keep your employees engaged, thus avoiding a slump. Want some ideas on how to energize your whole