Career burn our for Managers
Manager burnout is a very real threat to many companies.
Managers driven to succeed sometimes operate beyond their tolerance levels of stress, hours and commitment. The end result can be a manager whose performance and attitude becomes increasingly poor.
In business context, the term ‘burnout’ applies to people whose work has lost its meaning. It is normal to be stressed at work from time to time. However burnout occurs when there is an accumulation of stress that has never been adequately relieved.
The human mind and body can only collect a certain amount of tension before something has to give. Managers who have placed themselves (or been placed) under relentless pressure for prolonged periods inevitably will begin to feel its effects. This is especially so when it goes unchecked.
The arrival of burnout can act as a wake up call for a manager to do a personal and professional inventory. If you believe that one of the management team is heading towards burnout, the first step is to acknowledge the possibility and to get professional advice.
Rather than wait for the inevitable fatigue, listlessness and career demise, if it is faced up to realistically at an early stage, burnout can be managed successfully.
Un-relieved work stress can result in debilitating mental conditions, which can be loosely described as ‘burnout’. The symptoms of this include:
- Energy depletion and emotional exhaustion;
- Decreased quality in work and personal relationships;
- Lowered resistance to illness;
- Increased dissatisfaction and pessimism; and
- Absenteeism and work inefficiency
What are the choices for a manager suffering from burnout?
Do nothing.
This is possibly the worst way to handle burnout. It can lead to increased bitterness and resentment, especially if a manager is continually passed over for promotion. A burnt-out manager may also get a negative image in the company as ‘dead wood.’
Change career.
Burnt-out managers who have lost all interest in their chosen career may look for a career in a totally different area. A career ‘sea change’ is becoming increasingly popular for disenchanted managers. This does have some disadvantages, namely:
- The loss of relevance of experience. This means managers may be forced to compete in a job market with younger people who are satisfied with lower rates of pay; and
- Managers might feel like they have failed, rather than seeing burnout as a temporary situation.
Change jobs.
A change of job within the same profession can give the burnt-out manager an opportunity to re-commit to original goals and aspirations. This approach has the advantage of keeping relevant skills, but changing the environment that may have lead to the burnout.
Signs of burnout – self test
If the answer to a number of these questions is ‘yes’, chances are that burnout may be present:
- Are you constantly feeling both emotionally and physically drained?
- Do you regularly have negative thoughts about your colleagues and job?
- Do you find that you are harder and less sympathetic with people than perhaps they deserve?
- Do you feel the pressure to do well is overbearing?
- Do you think you are under-achieving?
- Are you constantly thinking you are in the wrong job or industry?
- Do you feel misunderstood or unappreciated by your co-workers?
- Do you feel that you have no one to talk to?
- Are you always overwhelmed by the volume of work you do?
