10 Ways to Help Managers Recharge During Burnout

Burnout is real, and it can affect everyone at any level of their career. From the guy picking up coffees to the CEO, burnout can spread like fire and destroy morale and productivity alike. And when it happens to managers, the impact can be widespread throughout a company.

Managers are responsible for leading teams and making important decisions that affect the company’s bottom line. So what happens when they become burned out? They may become less effective, less motivated, less productive, and more prone to making mistakes.

But there’s good news! It can be stopped.

If you’re curious about how, then buckle up. We’ve got 10 helpful ways to help managers recharge – and get back on track.

What is Burnout?

Have you ever felt so exhausted and emotionally drained that you can’t seem to find the desire to get out of bed? Or maybe you’ve experienced a constant feeling of overwhelm and frustration that affects your mood and productivity.

You might assume that these are just normal feelings of stress. However, if these symptoms persist over a long time, you could be experiencing burnout- a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought about by prolonged exposure to stress.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

There are three main symptoms of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism, and reduced personal accomplishment.

But what causes burnout? The most common causes are work-related stressors such as long working hours, unrealistic deadlines, micromanagement, and lack of control over work tasks.

However, burnout can also be caused by personal factors such as perfectionism, lack of social support, and a general feeling of disconnection from life.

10 Ways to Help Managers Recharge During Burnout

A woman looks tired while working at a computer. — Burnout can lead to feelings of exhaustion and disinterest in the job, but there are steps you can take to prevent it.

We all know how stressful and demanding it is to be a manager. Dealing with different personalities, deadlines, and expectations can be overwhelming and exhausting.

And sometimes, even the best and most experienced managers hit a wall and suffer burnout. So, what can we do to help them recharge and recover?

Here are some tips.

1. Recognize It

Burnout doesn’t just impact an individual’s mental and physical health; it can also affect team morale, productivity, and overall company culture.

When your manager is burned out, it can lead to poor communication, micromanagement, and a less-than-ideal work environment. By recognizing burnout early and helping them get back on track, you can prevent further damage and create a more positive workplace.

If you notice your manager missing deadlines, making mistakes, or not being present in meetings, then it may indicate burnout. Another sign could be a change in their behavior or attitude, such as being irritable, detached, or disengaged. Working longer hours, taking fewer breaks, or showing signs of fatigue are other telltale signs of burnout.

One of the best ways to acknowledge the impacts of burnout on a manager’s personal and professional life – and to alleviate those impacts – is to take some of the weight off their shoulders.

Working with a staffing and recruiting agency like iCreatives can help alleviate some of the burdens of managing a team. iCreatives offers a range of services, from temporary staffing to permanent placements, to help you find the right team members for your needs. Delegating these sorts of tasks can help to reduce stress levels and increase productivity, allowing managers to focus on what they do best – leading.

2. Encourage Work-Life Balance

As a manager, juggling work responsibilities and personal life can be challenging. The pressure to meet targets, deadlines, and demands is relentless and overwhelming. Soon, you find yourself dealing with stress, exhaustion, and burnout. You need to take time off and recharge, but placing boundaries between work and life can sometimes be difficult.

One of the most effective ways to combat burnout is promoting work-life balance. It’s not always easy, but it’s achievable. Here are some tips for managers to find balance:

Prioritize and delegate: Managers can reduce their workload by delegating important tasks to their team members. Prioritizing work helps managers manage their time and ensures that deadlines are met.
Set boundaries: Boundaries can help managers separate work-life from personal life. It’s important to log out and switch off after work hours regularly.
Create a schedule: Managers can create a schedule that records all their work and personal commitments. This helps them stay organized and ensure they have time for personal interests.

3. Offer and Encourage Regular Feedback

Feedback gives managers valuable insights into how they’re performing and what they can do to improve. It also gives them a sense of accomplishment and validation when they receive positive feedback. Regular feedback can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve motivation.

So, how can you offer regular feedback? Start by setting up regular one-on-one meetings with your managers. During these meetings, share your observations, discuss their progress, and offer constructive feedback. Encourage them to do the same, and make sure they’re doing the same with their own employees as well.

4. Foster Open Communication

Communication is key to successful management. When managers feel like they can openly communicate with their team, it reduces stress and helps build trust. You can foster open communication by creating an open-door policy.

Encourage your managers to come to you with their concerns, questions, and ideas. Create a culture of transparency and honesty where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions.

5. Offer Rewards and Incentives

Everyone likes to feel appreciated and valued, and your managers are no exception. Offering rewards and incentives is a great way to recognize their hard work and dedication. Rewards can vary from a simple thank-you note to a bonus or promotion.

The key is to make sure that the reward is meaningful and relevant to the manager. Talk to them and find out what motivates them. Is it a flexible schedule? Time off? A conference or training opportunity?

Whatever you do, don’t just settle for offering the easiest solution. Pizza parties are nice, but they won’t do much in terms of stopping burnout. You need to make sure these incentives are tailored to your employees’ unique needs. By offering the right incentives, you can help your managers recharge and refocus their energy.

6. Encourage Employee Autonomy

Four people work at a laptop while one man checks his watch. — Allow your managers to make their own decisions about how they spend their time during the day.

One of the biggest contributors to burnout among managers is the feeling of being overwhelmed and overworked. One way to alleviate this is to give managers more control over their workload and how they delegate tasks to their team.

By encouraging employee autonomy, managers can delegate some of their tasks to their team members, giving them a chance to step up and take ownership of their work. This, in turn, can ease the burden on the manager and give them more breathing room to focus on the most critical tasks.

It also fosters a sense of trust and respect between the manager and their team, which can be beneficial in the long run.

7. Implement Employee Wellness Programs

The first thing that comes to people’s minds when thinking about employee wellness programs is physical wellness. While that’s certainly an important component, these programs do much more than just promote physical health; they cover emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial wellness too.

Wellness programs are designed to create a healthy work environment that boosts employee morale, enhances productivity, and reduces stress levels.

Employees who are happy and healthy are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. They’re also less likely to have health problems that may lead to absenteeism.

Here are a few wellness programs to consider:

Physical Wellness Programs: These programs include gym memberships, yoga classes, and on-site health screenings.
Emotional Wellness Programs: Programs that promote emotional wellness include counseling services, stress management programs, and mindfulness training.
Mental Wellness Programs: Mental wellness programs can involve offering educational training to help employees improve their mental health, such as wellness coaching or EAP (Employee Assistance Program) counseling.
Financial Wellness Programs: Financial wellness programs teach employees how to become financially responsible. Programs like financial planning sessions and retirement planning seminars can help to reduce stress levels and improve employee morale.

8. Offer Flexible Working Arrangements

Offering flexible working arrangements can help managers find balance and ultimately avoid burnout. One option is to allow managers to work remotely.

This can give them the freedom to work from home, or a location of their choosing, which eliminates the distractions and stresses that sometimes come with a traditional office environment.

Another option is to offer flexible work hours. Allowing managers to choose their work hours, so long as they complete their tasks on time, can help them find a schedule that works best for them.

Working in sprints can be beneficial to not only managers but the entire team. By focusing on specific tasks for a set period, such as two weeks, and then taking a break, a manager can avoid burnout by ensuring they are only working on relevant tasks without worrying about the backlog of other work.

This method also helps managers feel a sense of accomplishment when tasks are complete, boosting their morale and motivation.

9. Provide Regular Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development opportunities can help managers pick up new knowledge and skills to enhance their performance.

For instance, attending workshops, conferences, or seminars can introduce them to new ideas and concepts that they can apply to their work. Investing in online courses or certification programs can equip them with new skills to improve their job performance.

Providing these opportunities can help managers feel more confident and capable in their roles, resulting in a renewed sense of purpose and motivation.

The business world is constantly evolving, and managers need to keep up with the latest trends and best practices. Professional development opportunities can facilitate this.

For example, attending industry conferences can provide insights into emerging trends and strategies. Enrolling in online courses can help managers stay informed about the latest tools and technologies. Offering these opportunities can help managers feel more connected to their field, and that can result in an increased sense of motivation and engagement.

Providing professional development opportunities can also help managers connect with other professionals in their field. For instance, attending conferences, workshops, or training sessions can provide opportunities to interact with peers, share experiences, and learn from each other.

Creating a culture that emphasizes professional development can also build a sense of community and bonding among employees. Other managers can provide the support and encouragement managers need when they are feeling burnt out or struggling.

10. Take Time to Check In Regularly

Regular check-ins give managers the opportunity to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and address any issues or challenges that they may be facing. These check-ins can be done either with a supervisor or a mentor who can provide support and guidance.

It’s important to establish a safe and non-judgmental environment for these conversations to take place. The goal of these check-ins is not just to identify problems but to find solutions and take steps toward improvements.

The Takeaway

By implementing the strategies discussed in this blog, you can help your managers perform at their best, prevent burnout, and create a vibrant workplace culture.

And if you are looking to hire the right people, make sure to check out iCreatives for stress-free hiring. After all – teamwork makes the dream work!