Burnout, what is it? Is it a feeling, a thought, a state of being, or is it real at all? For some people, it is a reality, and unfortunately, some people experience burnout more often than others. I can safely say that burnout does not define who someone is, but it can have an effect on how someone behaves. The stresses, disappointments, inequities, tragedies, and other circumstances that we experience can cause someone to become overwhelmed, unfocused, unmotivated, and ultimately feel burned out. And guess what, leaders like you and I are not exempt from feeling burned out.
I remember a time when the circumstances in the workplace caused me to feel a sense of frustration, uncertainty, uneasiness, anxiety, and fear. I was emotionally drained, and yes, I was feeling burned out. This was the first time in my career that taking a leave of absence crossed my mind. This was not normal, but the circumstances that were leading me towards burnout were real. Fortunately, I had a mentor I could share my thoughts with who was able to encourage me and talk some sense into me. So, if you are experiencing burnout right now, I understand.
Although I understand the reality of burnout, as leaders, we must do all we can to overcome burnout and not let it overcome us. People are looking to us for direction, support, encouragement, advice, and much more. Therefore, we should do our best to take care of ourselves (mind, body, and soul) and remember why we do what we do and that we’re blessed with the opportunity to do it. Jon Gordon, in his book, "The Power of a Positive Team" (2018), says, "We don't get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it. Remember your why and you won't lose your energy along the way." This statement resonates with me, and I hope it encourages you to remember your why, your calling, and your purpose for serving in leadership in your home, workplace, place of worship, community, and team, even when things are challenging. We have been called to lead in our environment for a purpose, so let's commit to overcoming the distractions that affect how we behave as leaders, known as burnout, by remembering our why, our purpose, and our calling for the people we lead.
- Review Your Leadership/Life Mission Statement: In one of my previous blogs, Leadership Worth Remembering, I discussed creating a Leadership/Life Mission Statement. Reviewing it periodically or posting it somewhere you can easily access and frequently looking at it can help you keep your “why” at the forefront of your mind. If you feel comfortable sharing your mission statement with someone close to you who you know has your back, so they can reinforce your why during challenging times, then you can do that as well.
- Talk to Someone: I can't say this enough: Be vulnerable. Again, this should be with people you trust (a mentor, coach, accountability partner, spouse, friend, etc.). Leadership can be a lonely experience if you let it, so as leaders, we must be intentional in connecting with others, and if we are not, our needs and well-being can be forgotten since we are always giving of ourselves to other people.
- Let Purpose and Values Drive You: If we lead based on our purpose and values, it can help us to overcome burnout. I believe that if we are driven by purpose and values, we can, as they say, "burn the midnight oil" without experiencing burnout. The work may still be difficult, but it will be much more enjoyable, bearable, fulfilling, and rewarding when the work is being done with purpose and according to your values. Again, it doesn't mean that it will be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.
Conclusion:
Although burnout does exist, as leaders, we can overcome it, and to lead well, we must. Our people are looking to us to help them be effective by providing them with support and removing the barriers/obstacles. So, let's make a point to take care of ourselves and overcome burnout by remembering our why as we review our leadership/life mission statement, talk to someone we trust, and let our purpose and values drive us. We have been called to lead in the places we are leading for a purpose. So, let's not get distracted and/or discouraged by the obstacles that we encounter along the way. Instead of giving in to burnout, let’s be leaders who overcome burnout because we remember our why, our purpose, and our calling.
Additional Comments:
Thank you for reading or listening to this blog post. I hope you enjoyed this post and that it was very meaningful to you. Please post your comments, feedback, or suggestions in the comments section on this page. Also, please share this post with others. Stay tuned for June's edition to be posted in the upcoming weeks. I hope you have a blessed day, week, and month ahead.
4 comments:
Burnout is real, but it doesn’t have to rule us — especially when we lead from purpose, values, and connection. When you admit that you once considered taking a leave of absence, it gives permission for other leaders to acknowledge their own limits. That’s rare. That’s needed. And that’s leadership. Vince, you're not just talking about burnout, but this about your calling, stewardship and leaders who carry others. Which is rarely done in this world of me, myself and I.
The above comment was by Roland Bynum
I don't know if I've ever truly experienced burnout. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between burnout and the normal stress that comes with the job. My guess is that I probably have experienced it, perhaps more than once, without fully recognizing it at the time.
I appreciate the reminder to continually realign with my "why" and to stay clear on the purpose behind the work. Having that clarity can make a big difference when challenges and stress inevitably arise.
Vincent, great points on burnout. I have experienced being burned out several times in my corporate and academic career. You are right that we should reflect on our mission, purpose and values; and keep those in the forefront. Burnout can create all the things that you mentioned, including the emotional behaviors. It can also trigger personality changes in us and how we deal with others. I would also add that in order for us to mitigate being burned out is applying work-life balance. It’s always great to have an “out”, if you will, to relieve the stress by looking forward to something outside of “the job”. Such as the gym, hanging with the kids at their athletic games, doing something for you personally.
Again, great article. Keep up the good work!
Dr Board
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