Today, I want to share about a topic that's close to my heart: leadership burnout.
Leadership can be a lonely journey. We're expected to have all the answers, make tough decisions, and maintain a facade of unwavering strength and confidence. But the truth is, even the most seasoned among us need support and fresh insights.
It is hard to see other leaders struggling with burnout. I've been there, wanting to help but unable because they either didn't want the help, thought they didn't have time to do anything different or additional to what they already had on their plate, or thought they would be viewed as weak if they sought help. Don't let this be you!
I've also been the burnout leader, working 70+ hours per week, including too many weekends. You always seem to be 2-3 weeks away from crossing things off the list to lighten the load. But each week, new fires keep emerging, and the lighter load is still 2-3 weeks away.
I've learned that one of the most powerful tools in combating burnout is reaching out to peers and mentors. Their outside perspective can provide clarity when we're too close to a problem, offer innovative solutions we might not have considered, and provide the emotional support we often neglect.
Another tool for combating burnout is to enlist the help of a coach, someone who will persist in helping you identify the barriers that are preventing you from taking the actions to remedy the strain of burnout and hold you accountable to take the actions you committed to take.
Alleviating burnout doesn't happen overnight. But with regular and purposeful prioritization of actions to redistribute the load and keep healthy boundaries, you can begin to see improvement in a short span of time. Having a plan can give you hope. And seeing improvement yields encouragement. Don't keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. If you've been working 70+ hours per week so long you can't remember how long it's been, it's time for a change.
Here are a few strategies I've found helpful to identify the actions a leader needs to take to alleviate burnout:
Join a peer advisory group - other leaders can share their experience and solutions
Seek out a coach or mentor - a coach with help you find the answers within for your unique situation, and a mentor will share answers that have worked for them
Prioritize personal well-being (it's not selfish, it's necessary!) - you cannot give what you do not have! You need to be healthy and whole, spirit, soul, and body in order to give the best you have to give.
Delegate effectively and trust your team - give others an opportunity to help you. If the team around you needs development, engage them in growing into the roles needed. Hire 'A' players.
Regularly step back for strategic thinking - we can get stuck in the weeds from time to time and fail to see the big picture. Plan time, specifically, for looking ahead, seeing the big picture, both now and in the future, and identifying actions needed to close the gap.
When you are crunched for time, allocating time to find a way out of the burnout cycle can seem counterintuitive. However, a return on investment requires first, the investment! If you don't prioritize taking time to plan and implement the actions to get out of the burnout cycle, then you will remain on burnout highway. Take the off ramp and change your direction.
Remember, asking for help isn't a sign of weakness – it's a mark of wisdom and self-awareness. A healthier you leads to healthier leadership, healthier teams, healthier organizations, and a more robust business ecosystem for all.
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