At some point or another managers must handle burnout and stress among their employees. They might be too busy trying to make everything right for the business to continue but forget to take care of themselves in the long run. Burnout is a feeling of exhaustion from prolonged physical, mental, and emotional stress.
Project managers must therefore find ways of managing this issue before productivity takes a nosedive. A good way to start is using applications that help distribute work among employees according to their capacities. Such applications help them to schedule work and leave them with enough time for recharging.
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Top Ways To Prevent Burnouts Across Your Team
1. Identify the Characteristics of a Burnout
It may sometimes be hard to identify burnout from among the employees however there are telltale signs that can guide a manager. It’s not always laziness that makes them submit projects late. Some of the characteristics of burnout include having low energy and depression which directly affect their productivity at work.
An employee may experience frequent headaches and experience fatigue which makes them feel disengaged. Sometimes they may be getting burnout from their private lives and this is carried over to the workplace. Managers might also notice that their eating habits have drastically changed and this can be an alarming cause. The person could either be eating too much or too little when having a burnout.
2. Understand the Root Cause
A manager must take time to figure out the reason behind the team’s burnout. Maybe they have a lot of work to do within a short time or their roles are not clearly defined. Does the manager assign duties using a project management app with enough time for rest? Does he provide good leadership for employees to cope with the pressure?
Are the causes work-based or revolve around their private lives? Either way, the manager should not assume any of them and can reach out by having in-person conversations. To start, managers can ask them questions to know the kind of problems they are facing. Note that some employees may not be very open because of fear of a reprimand therefore try and be empathic.
3. Compassion and Empathy are Key
To correctly handle burnout issues, it is advised that the project manager uses empathy and compassion. The team could be frustrated because of the manager or vice versa. Either way, they need to go through the issues together. The manager must try not to take issues personally as there could be several reasons why they burned out.
They need to think about what is best for them and this can vary from one individual to another. They may need to take a leave or go for a vacation to recharge. Other employees might just need clarification to perform better in their jobs. Managers need to figure out how best they can help them for the benefit of both the company and them.
4. Tackle the Problem as a Group
The manager can suggest the team take some time off for self-care as a group. This can also work by having group discussions where they talk about their issues. Such discussions should be open and include physical activities that will help reduce burnout. The team can decide to learn meditation together while sharing tips and tricks for reducing stress.
The same will also help managers keep a tab on themselves as they take care of the group. However, no team member should be forced into these activities as they should willingly accept to join. Allow them to make their own choices to promote a sense of autonomy.
5. Be a Source of Optimism
Managers must always try to be a source of optimism for their employees by encouraging positivity. It may be hard when stressed out but they must always try to show them there’s a brighter day ahead. They must recognize their efforts and thank them when they outdo themselves.
Encouraging the workers to focus on themselves can also go a long way in giving them some hope. Good leadership requires that managers celebrate with teams whenever they achieve milestones. Managing team burnouts boosts productivity, inclusion and promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Keep Your Team Running Strong
Managers need to understand that handling burnouts in their teams is important if productivity is to stay on top. They must know how to identify early signs and address them immediately. The tips can keep the workforce motivated and charged at all times.
