The Vast Majority of Managers Are Unsure How to Address Burnout

The world of work is rapidly changing. As telecommunications technologies became more sophisticated and more ubiquitous, the line between work and home began to blur. The global health crisis has forced workers to shelter in place and perform their job duties remotely, so many business leaders are rethinking what work means and how to best support the employees performing that work. Many managers and members of the leadership suite admit that they are at a loss as to how they can best foster their employees' engagement and prevent burnout. According to a study conducted by Leadership IQ, only 19 percent of leaders rate their skill in reducing workforce burnout as “expert” or “advanced.” That means 81 percent of business leaders admit that they don’t have a clear understanding of how to successfully reduce burnout among their teams. One thing is clear, though. The common “sink or swim” wisdom of decades past no longer works. Demanding employees “toughen up” will do little to reduce the stress they are feeling right now and will ultimately drive talent away from your organization. To reduce burnout, managers and leaders need to compassionately approach each employee’s individual situation and try to work with them to find unique solutions.