It’s nearing the end of Q4 and you’re pushing your team hard to meet the organization’s end-of-year goals. You put extra effort into motivating your team, holding weekly meetings to push them to hit quotas. You expect to rely on your top performers to finish out the year strong.
But there is one problem…your team is more sluggish than usual. Your top performers are even disengaged and unproductive and you’re worried about year-end, more than ever.
Sound familiar? Your employees might be burned out.
As a manager, your employees, well-being should be one of your top priorities. Without them, where would your organization be? Burnout isn’t always easy to spot and often hides in plain sight. We’ve covered ways to prevent burnout, but today, we are talking about how to recognize burnout in your employees before it’s too late.
Signal #1: They’re Disengaged
Are some of your team members withdrawing from collaborating with each other, giving feedback, and offering creative suggestions? They may be burnt out.
What to look for:
- Boredom with activities that were once interesting
- Lack of communication with coworkers
- Withdrawing in meetings when their track record demonstrates they’re usually helpful or engaged.
Signal #2: Increased Sensitivity
Knowing your employees personality traits is key to recognizing this sign of burnout. Some people are naturally more sensitive, and that’s okay! However, if your employees begin acting increasingly sensitive in conversation and it’s out of character, it might be a sign that they’re burned out.
What to look for:
- Unable to tolerate or listen to constructive criticism
- Short or limited patience for tackling challenging tasks
- Getting stuck on minute details
Signal #3: Decreased Quality of Work
If you observe a consistent “on their game” employee starting to slack, don’t be too quick to discipline them. Although the perception seems laziness is the new normal, this issue could run deeper. Burnout can make people feel overworked even if they’re not. They may also lose their enjoyment and passion for their job, severely affecting their quality of work.
What to look for:
- Decrease in the amount of sales or projects completed
- Increased customer complaints regarding follow through or customer service
- Missing key deadlines
Signal #4: Exhaustion
Another common sign of burnout is constant exhaustion. This isn’t necessarily due to a lack of sleep. It is more physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that can severely affect performance. Making sure your employees take care of themselves both physically AND mentally will combat this warning signal.
What to look for:
- More frequent absences
- Inability to concentrate
- Forgetfulness, apathy
Signal #5: Isolation
Being burned out makes someone no longer wish to deal with much of anything because everything is perceived as too exhausting. If you notice that a usually chipper employee has withdrawn from conversation or sticks to themselves around the office, they may be experiencing burnout.
What to look for:
- Avoidance of co-workers and social opportunities
- Glued to their desk
- Less friendly/upbeat
The most important point in recognizing burnout in your employees is taking action. A company’s most valuable resource is its employees, and burnout can quickly deplete your team. After observing signs of burnout, make sure to give your employees time to refresh their bodies and minds. Whether it’s a fun office activity or decompressing over coffee, cut them a little slack, and make sure they know you are there as a manager who cares to offer support when necessary.
Are you looking for a way to keep your employees motivated and prevent burnout? LevelEleven is here for you!
