Battle Burnout by Focusing on What Your Employees Need
Between navigating additional family responsibilities, managing pandemic-related fears, and facing increased workloads, many people are at risk of burnout. How can you help your team at this moment? It may sound trite, but the key is empathy. At an organizational level, that means collecting data on how your employees are doing and using that data to inform the type of support you offer them. Survey your people on their experience during the pandemic, especially if they’ve made a sudden and sustained shift to remote work. Take an organized and concerted approach to address the needs that emerge. At the team level, go beyond the data and ask yourself, “Do I really know how everyone on my team is doing?” If the answer is no, spend time chatting with each individual, demonstrating that you’re personally invested in their wellbeing. These conversations will give you a better sense of the specific challenges that they’re facing. Be prepared to listen and respond with offers of support. A one-size-fits-all approach to burnout prevention doesn’t work, so dial into the specific needs of your employees to help them thrive.
“Preventing Burnout Is About Empathetic Leadership,” by Jennifer Moss