Nothing can hurt your bottom line faster than burnout. After all, you have spent countless hours searching for the perfect employee, only for their productivity and enthusiasm to start to fade. If they leave for another position, you will be right back where you started.
Burnout costs companies time, money, and energy. And you don’t have any to spare! Learn to recognize the signs of burnout so that you can keep the fire burning.
Increased Absences and Tardiness
This is one of the first telltale signs of burnout. When someone starts having a bunch of doctor appointments the same week, or they start showing up later and later each day, it is time to sit up and pay attention. Increased absence at work could be a warning that they are potentially looking around. Either way, it is a good time for you to intervene.
Low Energy and Motivation
Another major sign of burnout is when an employee’s productivity starts to decline. They may seem disengaged and start taking longer and longer to complete assignments. This might be a result of not feeling challenged by the work. If you start to notice a negative change in an employee’s energy levels, take some time to talk to them about the projects they are working on. By giving them more responsibility, you may actually increase their commitment and motivation.
Decreased Concentration and Work-Quality
If someone is having a difficult time focusing on the job, the quality of their work may start to suffer. Depending on the nature of their work, this could potentially create a dangerous situation. For this reason, it pays to be actively aware in your employees’ day to day. A distracted employee could mean burnout, or it could mean that there is something else going on in their personal life that is taking their attention away from the job. Either way, it is something that you need to be aware of so you can take action.
Poor Attitude and Engagement
Social interactions are important to a healthy work life. If an employee starts to have interpersonal issues at work, or they stop interacting with the group, they could be experiencing burnout. Often, work itself is not enough. Many people might begin to experience burnout if they do not feel a greater connection to their work. They need to know that what they are doing serves a greater purpose.
Communication Is Always Key
People experience burnout for a variety of different reasons. They might not feel challenged or respected. Or they might feel as though there is not a clear direction for their career. It is also possible that they are going through a difficult personal time, which is affecting their work.
Regardless of why someone experiences burnout, it is up to you to try and stop it. Open conversation is incredibly important for establishing expectations. You should conduct regular performance check-ins that allow employees to know where they stand and also be able to voice any concerns that they may have. While you may not be able to address all of their needs, at the very least they will feel seen and heard.
Photo by Gabriel Matula on Unsplash
