How to Reduce Crisis Burnout

As we approach the end of the year, many of us are wondering, “Where did 2020 go?”

When we first heard news of the coronavirus and lockdowns, our guards went up and we did what was needed to protect ourselves and our loved ones. What we thought would be a few weeks slowly turned into months.

First our New Year’s Resolutions, then our summer plans and now the holidays have been impacted by a pandemic.

Business owners and employees have also entered unfamiliar ground, balancing working from home with children learning from home, meetings over video calls and major changes to the way business is conducted on a day-to-day basis.

As a result of these shifts in the workplace, many employers have seen the fatigue and burnout that their team members are experiencing - in fact, nearly six in 10 employees reported feeling burned-out this year. Productivity and creativity can be greatly affected by burnout, as many employees are just trying to get to the next day.

As ActionCoach RGV aims to bring business support to South Texas, we have a few tips to help you avoid crisis burnout and bring some life back to your team.

Acknowledge the Situation

This has been a trying year for everyone. As an employer, you may want to draw the line between work life and personal life. However, these lines were undeniably blurred this year, and empathy should trump protocol in some instances.

It’s important to understand what your team is experiencing. Some team members may be struggling with their kids’ remote learning situation and a constantly packed household, which can affect their ability to work effectively.

On the other hand, others may be feeling isolated from their coworkers (and family) because of social distancing. Still, some may have enormous financial stress from the job loss of a significant other, while some employees may feel guilty for doing well but not being able to care for extended family as much as they’d like.

And the challenges that everyone is facing are as unique as those facing them.

Whatever their situation may be, acknowledging what they are experiencing shows that you care and also helps you understand why their work may come in late or at a different level than before. A simple, “Thank you for your hard work,” or bringing up something notable about their performance also brings security to those that may feel their job could also be lost any day.

Check the Temperature

A weekly one-on-one meeting can also help reduce burnout within your team. They’ll know that any issues, questions or ideas that are not time-sensitive have a scheduled appointment to be discussed. It also gives you a chance to check-in on their development and overall morale. These weekly meetings can open conversation to new goals and challenges you have for them, while giving them a certain sense of stability and a forum to have meaningful conversations with supervisors.

Help assess workload for those who feel pressured to remain working beyond normal business hours and set reasonable expectations for your team.

Remember Self-Care

We’ve seen pandemic fatigue lead to higher cases of anxiety and depression. While many have a similar experience or situation, each individual may have a different response to a crisis. Some of us choose to sleep-in or scroll online, and some of us keep busy with a new exercise routine or hobby.

Keep this in mind when asking your employees how they’re doing, or when asking them what they need from you. Remind them to care for themselves; tips for self-care can include:

• Schedule breathing or meditation breaks.
• Monitor social media usage.
• Replenish energy with a walk, bath, book, etc.
• Be active! Stretch and move around.
• Seek help if you feel overwhelmed.

Make Future Plans

When the pandemic and lockdown began, business owners found themselves unprepared on how to manage an office remotely or with a reduced staff. Knowing what we know now, having a plan for a similar situation in the future can prove to be beneficial to you, as well as assuring to your team. This can also reduce anxiety and bring hope for the future, reducing the present burnout. This plan can include the main vision and mission your team should focus on should another crisis occur. This plan should also be created with input and contributions from team members.

ActionCoach RGV has coached thousands of business owners in the Rio Grande Valley with our unique business building tools, approaches, strategies, and systems devised by a group of driven, energetic, and well-versed business coaches, industry leaders, and supporting team members. Our FREE session can help you get started on creating an action plan today.

Be Creative With “The New Norm”

There are still many new things to learn about remote work, meeting CDC guidelines in an office, and measuring productivity from a distance. We’ve had to reframe each aspect of a well-functioning business, and being resistant to these changes can put a complete stop to growth.

With remote or distance working, business leaders will need to measure their team’s effectiveness through results and completed tasks, rather than simply timecards. Having specific roles and tasks given with clear due dates will let your team know if they are doing what needs to be done, rather than wondering if they are doing enough.

Remember What’s Important

When all is said and done, your team just wants to know that you support and appreciate them. As we are each still coping and learning, ActionCoach RGV wants to be a part of the recovery and solution for your team. That’s why we are gifting 10 businesses a complimentary 2021 strategic plan.

Our plans and coaches have been helping people and businesses work through many different issues for over 15 years.

Trust our experience and register today to be 1 of 10 to receive a FREE strategic business plan.