How to Identify Burnout in Our Employees and Colleagues

Not only is it important to recognize burnout in ourselves, but it’s also important to understand how to identify it in others. In the workplace, we need to know, as leaders, managers, or colleagues, when those we work with are burnt out.

How to help a colleague in need

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The biggest clue is to notice a change in behaviour. Relative to how they have been in the last little while, has their behaviour changed? This might be an employee who used to be on time but is now late to most meetings; it might be someone who typically hit their deadlines but now misses them; it might be coworkers who used to attend social events but now always decline. We can also watch out for mood indicators: employees who are constantly negative, pessimistic, sarcastic, overwhelmed, or apathetic. Again, some employees may have always been this way, so we’re looking for a change in attitude. Burnout can also be observed when a colleague or employee has started “blowing up” or crying or yelling unexpectedly. If you notice yourself thinking “That’s so unlike them,” this is a good clue that something is up.

Don’t compare them to prepandemic times; none of us are functioning at the same level as we were before the pandemic. Furthermore, routines, habits, and ways of working have been severely disrupted over the pandemic, so changes in behaviour can be just as much due to these factors as to burnout.

What should you do if you feel a colleague or an employee is struggling? It is a lot easier to bring it up if talking about battery charge is a regular conversation. We recommend explaining the concept of “battery charge” and using it as an easy way to check in on how everyone is doing. We can all recognize that this is a normal human thing to need battery charge and to sometimes be drained. In addition to checking in on charge, we also want to ask if the individual needs or wants help if they are on low battery. Sometimes the answer might be yes, but sometimes we know exactly why we’re on low battery and we just have to wait to recharge (e.g., a bad night’s sleep, someone is sick in the family, we are sick). Ask permission before launching into helping the person. If we constantly try to “save” people on low battery, eventually everyone will start lying about their battery because they don't want the calvary to charge every time they just have a bad night’s sleep.

The best way to get someone to share is if we share ourselves. As leaders, it’s incredibly important to share our own battery charge and to acknowledge when it’s low. My team has often heard me say “I’m sorry, I can’t do that right now; I’m on low battery. Could we address it [later or tomorrow] once I have recharged?” We have long been told that a good leader is one who is stoic, who never lets on that anything is wrong, and who is a “rock” for their team. This is really bad advice. It goes against how humans are hardwired. It’s much more useful for humans to have someone who also experiences struggles and difficulties in life, someone who doesn’t have it “all figured out.” If my leader is always “perfect,” then there’s no way for me to connect or have them understand my imperfections. I’m alone in my struggle.

Many leaders object to the idea of sharing their own struggles. No, you don’t have to tell everyone all your troubles; you don’t have to admit every weakness or insecurity. Just be human enough, with enough imperfections that you are relatable to others. Think about it like this: The goal is to be “just messy enough to be approachable.”

Questions to ask:

• How’s your battery?

• Do you need any support to charge your battery? If yes, what can we do? (For example, stop booking meetings at lunchtime or start making it acceptable to eat lunch during lunchtime meetings.)

• If you’re on low battery, do you need any support? Is there anything we can do to help you? (For example, change deadlines, add extra humanpower to a project, take something off your plate.)

Remember:

• The best way to get someone to share is for us to share ourselves.
• Try to be “just messy enough to be approachable.”