3 Ways to Effectively Prevent Employee Burnout

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the United States, and employee burnout is higher than ever. As the office has now become a laptop in the kitchen, employee disengagement has made its impact on employees and employers across the nation.

With COVID-19 cases in the United States decreasing, people have been and will continue to make their way back into their physical office. It is crucial to make sure that your employees feel good, motivated, and confident about going back to work. As a leader, finding ways to consistently engage and motivate your team may seem like an intimidating task, but using the following techniques will put you on the path to mitigating employee burnout.

Emphasize Effective Communication

One of the most important qualities that a team should have is the ability to communicate effectively. If communication between the employee and the employer is consistent, it creates a seamless work environment for the entire team. Communication on a scheduling issue or perhaps communicating on whether an employee’s workload is overwhelming may be the one thing that saves that employee from feeling endless burnout.

Further, effective communication creates a feeling of purpose, like the work being put in means something for the greater of the group. Try holding frequent staff meetings to discuss all that is being accomplished, that way everyone feels motivated about what they are producing. Especially when their work is a vital part of the overall goal, it’s a nice feeling for them to know their work is being recognized. Many employees go about their day doing their tasks unaware of how impactful they are to the team as a whole. Creating that sense of purpose and belonging in the office is significant to the success of employees and for your company.

Promoting Wellness

As a leader who is feeling burnout, it’s important to check that you are not projecting your stress onto others. This could ultimately lead to a domino effect of everyone in the office feeling each other’s stress. One way to help prevent this burnout is by scheduling free time for yourself. Even if it’s just a thirty-minute break each day to take a breather from the office, this can significantly benefit the rest of your workday. Taking a moment and stepping away from your computer can help clear your mind and avoid hitting that breaking point. Creating a wellness plan for you and your team can ensure that everyone in your business is doing the same.

Creating a to-do list at the start of each morning will help you visualize and effectively plan your day. Checklists give us structure and having a to-do list to look at throughout the day significantly reduces stressful and anxious feelings. Physically seeing the tasks you and your team have completed that day can certainly help boost productivity and morale. 

Remote Working & Flexibility

If there is one thing we can thank the pandemic for, it is that many of us have become more tech-savvy and more productive when it comes to working remotely. Giving your employees the option of working from home can significantly reduce the amount of burnout and stress that members of your team are feeling. Virtual staff meetings have become easier than ever now that applications like Zoom have made their way in most office settings. When done right, remote working can ultimately increase employee productivity and satisfaction.

Employee burnout is not something that will disappear within one day but taking the right steps will help guide your team in the right direction for a successful and productive remaining work year.

Feeling the burnout yourself as a business owner? We offer one-on-one coaching sessions to get your mind back on track! Sign up for our free clarity session to see what it’s all about and contact us at (631) 619-6728 for more information.