Both workers and leaders have consistently observed burnout in the workplace, with nearly half of employees (48%) and over half of managers (53%) reporting experiencing burnout, according to Microsoft's 2022 Work Trend Index.
Shared with CNBC Make It at Fast Company's Innovation Festival, Phoebe Gavin, a career coach and executive director of talent and development at Vox.com, advises her coaching clients to differentiate between feeling tired and being tired of a particular task or situation.
Here are ways to recognize the type of burnout you may be facing and steps to alleviate it.
Disengagement or Depletion?
One form of burnout that can arise when you feel weary, specifically from your job tasks, is disengagement. Disengagement typically occurs when you have grown tired of the tasks and are ready to move on to a new role.
The other type of burnout involves chronic fatigue or energy depletion across various aspects of life. Gavin explains that if you are experiencing physical or mental symptoms and issues in your personal life and relationships, then a more intensive intervention is required to help you achieve a more balanced and replenished state. In a job context, this type of burnout arises from expending more energy than you have, which may occur from working excessive hours or encountering conflicts with coworkers or leadership.
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Identifying The Source of Burnout
To determine which type of burnout you are facing and identify its source within your job, Gavin suggests asking yourself four questions. She advises doing this exercise on paper rather than in your head, which forces you to organize your thoughts and provides a written record for reflection, adjustment, and future reference.
- Why did you decide to take on this job in the first place?
- When have you felt excited about your job or career?
- When have you felt unexcited or depleted by your job?
- Looking ahead, what will make you feel excited and proud or disappointed about your job?
Answering these questions on paper can help you gain clarity and insight into your current situation and identify areas for improvement.
Ludmila Praslova, a psychology professor at Vanguard University of Southern California, notes that job descriptions are not always accurate representations of the actual role. As a result, individuals may experience burnout because they find themselves in a position they did not sign up for.
Advocate for Yourself
Once you have identified the source of your burnout, Gavin advises you to advocate for yourself and communicate what you are currently experiencing with your supervisor.
The responses you have identified can help you articulate the challenges in your job and how they are affecting you. This can help you outline tasks or changes in your work approach that could alleviate burnout. By doing so, you can propose actionable steps to enhance your situation. Ultimately, your boss will be very willing to assist you in finding job parameters that work best for you because when you are enthusiastic about your role, they know your productivity improves.
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