Episode: 723

Episode Name: On the Lookout for Burnout

The best time to address burnout is before it happens. Here’s how you can spot the warning signs, next on The Perna Syndicate. 

Ep 723 show:

You’re now in The Perna Syndicate—and I’m glad you’re here! There’s no way around the fact that, as a leader, it’s challenging to keep tabs on the mental health of remote workers. I’m right there with you. But that doesn’t mean that we can neglect the signs of remote burnout, in others OR in ourselves. It just means we need to be on the lookout. 

The best way to spot burnout before it takes root is to establish a baseline of behaviors. Use natural benchmarks to check in with your employees. 

For example, if you have a chatty coworker who has recently been quiet in meetings or on Slack channels, it’s a clue that something might be up. Take a minute to reach out to them. 

Sometimes, people just dialing in to meetings, instead of turning on their video, could mean burnout is approaching. Even something as simple as a steady employee appearing disorganized and forgetful is a warning sign.

Creating checkpoints to talk about the emotions behind the work can be an easy way to start a culture of checking in. Just make sure you don’t invalidate the check-in by moving to another topic in the same conversation. As I’ve said before, check in—and then walk away. Let the check-in stand by itself, because that’s how people know you don’t have an ulterior motive for checking in. 

These checkpoints are vital to create a baseline and keep communication open. Then you know when something’s off. Being proactive about burnout is the best way to prevent it. 

Tomorrow: How can offering a remote workplace give companies an edge with Gen Z employees? We’ll discuss that question next time on The Perna Syndicate. See you then!