How to Communicate Burnout
If you made it to the 5th level (aka the month of May) in 2021, congratulations. If you’re a working parent who made it to 2021 in general, congratulations. And if you’re a working professional who is either a) starting a new job during/despite a pandemic or b) trying to keep it together in your current job, congratulations! You have survived another month.
Work seems to be exponentially harder these days and when our society is fueled by busy-ness. It is only a matter of time before we become burnt out. Gallup 2021, found that employees overextended themselves in 2020 to deliver as much “business as usual” as they possibly could.
“As CHROs reflect on the past 12 months, it is clear that employees have made heroic efforts in serving customers and keeping organizations in business. Many have put themselves at risk or persevered through immense personal challenges”
With all of us still reeling from the economic, civic, and health crises of 2020, it is more important now than ever to learn how to effectively communicate our needs and limitations in the workplace.
Use this 3-step process to facilitate productive conversations around burnout in the workplace.
Schedule a 1:1 meeting with your boss/manager/business partner/counterpart to have a specific conversation about your bandwidth
"Hey XYZ, would you be available to meet for 15-20 minutes on Monday or Tuesday so we can chat about my workload?"
Be direct. Provide receipts. Admit faults/limitations
This is the hard part. When workloads become overwhelming, people typically start to make mistakes. Start out the conversation by saying -
"Lately, balancing my workload with meetings has been too much for me to accomplish in a single workday/workweek. Last week I noticed I was late on a report and I can tell I am suffering in my productivity"
Come prepared with a solution
Now is the time to communicate boundaries AND showcase your problem-solving skills.
"I want to be conscientious of the fact I am not performing my best when I am overworked. Would it be possible for me to delegate some of my tasks?"
Simple, yet effective conversations will better the working relationship and environment between you, your clients, your direct reports, and your colleagues. These conversations are what will create a safe, sound, and productive workspace.
Try these today and watch your work life transform for the better!
