From Burnout to Balance: Lessons From an ATD26 Community Conversation

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Two things are true about burnout: one, it doesn’t discriminate, and two, it comes for us all. Even the co-workers who seemingly always have it together may be silently suffering from burnout. At ATD26, L&D expert Betty Dannewitz led a community conversation that invited attendees to name the pressures draining them, share strategies that help, and identify ways teams can build healthier, more sustainable ways of working. During the session, attendees identified burnout, shared solutions to overcome it, and discussed ways to reduce workplace stressors. Here is a recap of that conversation.

Two things are true about burnout: one, it doesn’t discriminate, and two, it comes for us all. Even the co-workers who seemingly always have it together may be silently suffering from burnout. At ATD26, L&D expert Betty Dannewitz led a community conversation that invited attendees to name the pressures draining them, share strategies that help, and identify ways teams can build healthier, more sustainable ways of working. During the session, attendees identified burnout, shared solutions to overcome it, and discussed ways to reduce workplace stressors. Here is a recap of that conversation.

Personal Check-In

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When your phone is dying, at what percentage will you start to charge it? On average, people start searching for a charger when their phone drops to 38 percent . Now imagine your own internal battery. How long will you go before you look to recharge?

When your phone is dying, at what percentage will you start to charge it? On average, people start searching for a charger when their phone drops to 38 percent. Now imagine your own internal battery. How long will you go before you look to recharge?

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Betty asked attendees to consider their own internal battery: What is one thing draining you right now? What is one thing helping you recharge it?

Betty asked attendees to consider their own internal battery: What is one thing draining you right now? What is one thing helping you recharge it?

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There was a broad consensus that, too often, the L&D “team” is really a team of one. This can lead to unrealistic timelines, budget constraints, and a feeling of being undervalued in the organization’s strategy. If there is no one to collaborate with or delegate work to, then L&D is left on its own island. How can one person handle all the work of their talent development strategy and advocate for the function's growth and necessity?

There was a broad consensus that, too often, the L&D “team” is really a team of one. This can lead to unrealistic timelines, budget constraints, and a feeling of being undervalued in the organization’s strategy. If there is no one to collaborate with or delegate work to, then L&D is left on its own island. How can one person handle all the work of their talent development strategy and advocate for the function's growth and necessity?

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Attendees also pointed to a lack of direction, focus, and scope as major drains on their energy. Many were struggling with access to execs, who remained painfully unaware of the goals of the L&D function. Others felt stalled by indecision, competing organizational priorities, the multiple roles talent professionals held, and the misunderstanding of the purpose of an L&D team to an organization. Any of this sound familiar?

Attendees also pointed to a lack of direction, focus, and scope as major drains on their energy. Many were struggling with access to execs, who remained painfully unaware of the goals of the L&D function. Others felt stalled by indecision, competing organizational priorities, the multiple roles talent professionals held, and the misunderstanding of the purpose of an L&D team to an organization. Any of this sound familiar?

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“If we’re not working toward a shared goal, it makes the work feel meaningless,” one table agreed.

“If we’re not working toward a shared goal, it makes the work feel meaningless,” one table agreed.

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The good news is that no one is alone. Naming what is draining you allows you to hear from others who share similar challenges. Suddenly, that island of one is starting to feel a little bit more like a community. Identifying exactly what is causing your burnout will also get you one step closer to finding a solution. It all starts with taking the time to check in with yourself and your peers.

The good news is that no one is alone. Naming what is draining you allows you to hear from others who share similar challenges. Suddenly, that island of one is starting to feel a little bit more like a community. Identifying exactly what is causing your burnout will also get you one step closer to finding a solution. It all starts with taking the time to check in with yourself and your peers.

What Burnout Looks Like in L&D

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“Burnout in L&D doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like over-functioning.” - Betty Dannewitz

“Burnout in L&D doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like over-functioning.” - Betty Dannewitz

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Burnout can feel like a collapse of the system, but it can also sneak up on you. The attendees came up with several sneaky signs of burnout:

Burnout can feel like a collapse of the system, but it can also sneak up on you. The attendees came up with several sneaky signs of burnout:

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  A decrease in your energy level

  A decrease in your energy level

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  An increase in tasks and responsibilities

  An increase in tasks and responsibilities

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  A change management event

  A change management event

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  Always trying to play catch-up

  Always trying to play catch-up

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  Taking longer and longer to log off work each day

  Taking longer and longer to log off work each day

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  Defiance or resentment toward your job, team, or organization

  Defiance or resentment toward your job, team, or organization

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These are just some of the ways you can identify burnout. Some work may make burnout feel obvious, such as implementing a new project that involves late nights and high visibility. Some work is easy to hide, such as administrative tasks that seem routine and easy to complete, yet suddenly become a struggle.

These are just some of the ways you can identify burnout. Some work may make burnout feel obvious, such as implementing a new project that involves late nights and high visibility. Some work is easy to hide, such as administrative tasks that seem routine and easy to complete, yet suddenly become a struggle.

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Burnout can lead to a physical and/or mental toll. Stress can weaken your immune system, disrupt your sleep schedule, and cause muscle pain (among other physical ailments). So, while it’s important to catch burnout before it sneaks up on you for the sake of your work, it’s also important to protect your health and prevent chronic illnesses. But identifying burnout is easier said than done.

Burnout can lead to a physical and/or mental toll. Stress can weaken your immune system, disrupt your sleep schedule, and cause muscle pain (among other physical ailments). So, while it’s important to catch burnout before it sneaks up on you for the sake of your work, it’s also important to protect your health and prevent chronic illnesses. But identifying burnout is easier said than done.

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Many attendees agreed that parts of the L&D role can make burnout easy to hide. Betty shared her own pattern that can lead to it: overbooking. It may feel like you must do everything expected of you, because that’s “the nature of the role.” That’s why it’s important to be honest about what is sustainable in your work and what you are pretending to be sustainable. Only then can you start to find ways to recharge.

Many attendees agreed that parts of the L&D role can make burnout easy to hide. Betty shared her own pattern that can lead to it: overbooking. It may feel like you must do everything expected of you, because that’s “the nature of the role.” That’s why it’s important to be honest about what is sustainable in your work and what you are pretending to be sustainable. Only then can you start to find ways to recharge.

What’s Actually Working

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As important as it is to have space to vent grievances, the goal of any community conversation is to lead the attendees to actionable solutions. Betty posed these questions to the attendees:

As important as it is to have space to vent grievances, the goal of any community conversation is to lead the attendees to actionable solutions. Betty posed these questions to the attendees:

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What is one thing that helps you protect your energy? Think of a boundary you set or a habit you use to prompt a shift in your mindset. Is there a system you use to set time for yourself?

What is one thing that helps you protect your energy? Think of a boundary you set or a habit you use to prompt a shift in your mindset. Is there a system you use to set time for yourself?

Solution 1: Reframing

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Sometimes what you need is a reality check. One attendee said that shifting his perspective away from work and remembering there’s a larger world out there helped to take the pressure off. It's easy to dive into the to-do list and feel like you must bring the work home, but if you're burnt out, are you really going to be doing your best work anyway? Try to separate work expectations from the rest of your life. Remember, you are not a role; you are a person.

Sometimes what you need is a reality check. One attendee said that shifting his perspective away from work and remembering there’s a larger world out there helped to take the pressure off. It's easy to dive into the to-do list and feel like you must bring the work home, but if you're burnt out, are you really going to be doing your best work anyway? Try to separate work expectations from the rest of your life. Remember, you are not a role; you are a person.

Solution 2: Reflecting

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When the feeling of overwhelm creeps in, sometimes hitting the pause button is all you can do. Taking a moment to reset can help ease the feeling of immense pressure. One attendee said their go-to reset method was talking through problems with a trusted co-worker, family member, or friend. Another attendee mentioned keeping a journal in which she writes down her thoughts, allowing her to gain a broader sense of what's going on. No matter your method, reflection is a powerful way to check in and re-orient yourself.

When the feeling of overwhelm creeps in, sometimes hitting the pause button is all you can do. Taking a moment to reset can help ease the feeling of immense pressure. One attendee said their go-to reset method was talking through problems with a trusted co-worker, family member, or friend. Another attendee mentioned keeping a journal in which she writes down her thoughts, allowing her to gain a broader sense of what's going on. No matter your method, reflection is a powerful way to check in and re-orient yourself.

Solution 3: Reprioritizing

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Sometimes the workload cannot be avoided. When this is the challenge you face, it’s time to reprioritize. Make a list of everything you need to get done and rank them by necessity or ease. If you need to get several small, unimportant tasks done first to get into a nice flow, start with those. If you’ve been putting off a big project, carve out time to get it started. Although you prioritize, it won’t stop new work coming your way. When an “urgent” request comes in, demand to know why it is urgent and negotiate for a reasonable deadline. And remember, you do have the ability to say no, especially when the project is not a top priority.

Sometimes the workload cannot be avoided. When this is the challenge you face, it’s time to reprioritize. Make a list of everything you need to get done and rank them by necessity or ease. If you need to get several small, unimportant tasks done first to get into a nice flow, start with those. If you’ve been putting off a big project, carve out time to get it started. Although you prioritize, it won’t stop new work coming your way. When an “urgent” request comes in, demand to know why it is urgent and negotiate for a reasonable deadline. And remember, you do have the ability to say no, especially when the project is not a top priority.

From Individual Habits to Team Norms

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If we want wellness to be more than an individual responsibility, what needs to change in how L&D teams work?

If we want wellness to be more than an individual responsibility, what needs to change in how L&D teams work?

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What happens in the room must not stay in the room. Betty encouraged each table of attendees to have an “Idea Heist,” where they decided which tactic they wanted to share to continue overcoming burnout. The result was a set of practical norms teams can adopt to reduce strain and work more sustainably.

What happens in the room must not stay in the room. Betty encouraged each table of attendees to have an “Idea Heist,” where they decided which tactic they wanted to share to continue overcoming burnout. The result was a set of practical norms teams can adopt to reduce strain and work more sustainably.

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Learn to ask questions. When a training or development request comes through, it might be a habit to say “yes.” Instead, try to form a new habit of asking follow-up questions before agreeing to any request. Find out the ideal timeline for the project, stakeholder expectations, and the resources you will have available. Get aligned before you get on board.

Learn to ask questions. When a training or development request comes through, it might be a habit to say “yes.” Instead, try to form a new habit of asking follow-up questions before agreeing to any request. Find out the ideal timeline for the project, stakeholder expectations, and the resources you will have available. Get aligned before you get on board.

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Protect power hours. Your schedule is your own, and you don’t owe it to anyone else to keep it open. If you need to set aside time to complete a list of tasks, or even to take a break, block that time on your calendar. Don’t adjust if you can. In the words of Betty herself, “Block that time off on your calendar and keep it blocked. Protect that time like you would protect someone you love.”

Protect power hours. Your schedule is your own, and you don’t owe it to anyone else to keep it open. If you need to set aside time to complete a list of tasks, or even to take a break, block that time on your calendar. Don’t adjust if you can. In the words of Betty herself, “Block that time off on your calendar and keep it blocked. Protect that time like you would protect someone you love.”

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Trade priorities, not just promises. Taking on new projects while having an overload of tasks to complete is not going to give you high-quality results. Be realistic about the amount of work you can handle. Then, if something new does come your way, be upfront about what is on your plate. Tell the requester, “I can do this if something is dropped from the to-do list.” If it’s important, they will help you prioritize.

Trade priorities, not just promises. Taking on new projects while having an overload of tasks to complete is not going to give you high-quality results. Be realistic about the amount of work you can handle. Then, if something new does come your way, be upfront about what is on your plate. Tell the requester, “I can do this if something is dropped from the to-do list.” If it’s important, they will help you prioritize.

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Be intentional with time and resources. Commit to doing your tasks with purpose and not just going through the motions. It may be tiring at first, but you’ll save yourself the trouble of fixing careless work later down the road. With resources, don’t reinvent the wheel. See what you already have at your disposal and ask other departments what tools they have as well. Your company may possess exactly what you’re looking for; you just don’t know it yet.

Be intentional with time and resources. Commit to doing your tasks with purpose and not just going through the motions. It may be tiring at first, but you’ll save yourself the trouble of fixing careless work later down the road. With resources, don’t reinvent the wheel. See what you already have at your disposal and ask other departments what tools they have as well. Your company may possess exactly what you’re looking for; you just don’t know it yet.

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Add some fun. One attendee shared that when she returns to work, she is going to initiate a “Whine and Wine” event, where employees can take a break at the end of the week to rant, relate to each other, and wind down over some refreshments. Whether you want to relax alone or with company, infusing fun into your day is more productive than you think.

Add some fun. One attendee shared that when she returns to work, she is going to initiate a “Whine and Wine” event, where employees can take a break at the end of the week to rant, relate to each other, and wind down over some refreshments. Whether you want to relax alone or with company, infusing fun into your day is more productive than you think.

The Need for Community

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At the end of Betty’s session, the room seemed more relaxed. People left with tips and tricks to fight burnout, and they felt seen by their L&D peers. It’s difficult to ask for help or even to acknowledge that you need help. Burnout has a way of isolating us, and creating a community where you can talk about your challenges aloud and hear solutions is important for self-care. Talent development is a field where we focus a lot on other people and feel responsible for them. But that shouldn’t come at a personal cost.

At the end of Betty’s session, the room seemed more relaxed. People left with tips and tricks to fight burnout, and they felt seen by their L&D peers. It’s difficult to ask for help or even to acknowledge that you need help. Burnout has a way of isolating us, and creating a community where you can talk about your challenges aloud and hear solutions is important for self-care. Talent development is a field where we focus a lot on other people and feel responsible for them. But that shouldn’t come at a personal cost.

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One attendee shared that ATD26 was her first opportunity for professional development. While she had been asking her boss to attend an ATD conference for several years, he always said no. It either wasn’t within the budget, or there was too much other work to do. It was only this past spring that he finally told her she could go. The reason why is something we all can relate to:

One attendee shared that ATD26 was her first opportunity for professional development. While she had been asking her boss to attend an ATD conference for several years, he always said no. It either wasn’t within the budget, or there was too much other work to do. It was only this past spring that he finally told her she could go. The reason why is something we all can relate to:

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“You develop everyone else,” he said, “so now it’s time to take care of you.”

“You develop everyone else,” he said, “so now it’s time to take care of you.”