How to Help Your Team with Burnout When You’re Burned Out Yourself

As a manager, you want to do right by your employees and support them through intense work periods so they don’t get burned out. This can be a challenge when you’re already at your limits. The fact is, though, you can’t help your team members manage their stress if you’re burnt out yourself. Emotions are contagious so you need to gain control over your anxiety. Start by taking excellent care of yourself. Eat nutritious food; exercise regularly; get plenty of sleep; and try meditating. If you and your team are anxious about a heavy workload, it might be time to speak up. Talk to your boss about the effect that the stress is having on morale and performance. Ask: can this deadline be pushed back? Can this task be curtailed? It’s your responsibility to advocate for the people who work for you.