The Burnout Solving Algorithm

So for the last installment in our discourse about burnout, we’re focused on a framework of solutions. The steps you can take when burnout is on the horizon or happening, for you or your team. Ready?

1. Name the concern

2. Call out the fallacies

3. Find the mismatch

4. Prove care

5. Commit to strategies

Name the concern

Worried that you’ll make it appear by speaking its name? Nope. If you’re worried about the possibility of burnout you will do far more good by saying so than ignoring it or powering through. Even if the only person you can say it to is yourself.

Call out the fallacies

Remember that the risk of burnout does not mean the work is pointless, the leaders are bad, the people you’re serving aren’t grateful. Think about the ways that burnout leads to blame in your workplace and make sure to clarify what you’re not accusing people of by bringing this into the conversation.

Find the mismatch

Is the burnout primarily caused by a gap between:

• Effort and results

• Intentions and execution

• Expectations and reality

Prove care

Belonging and support are the two best tools in your arsenal no matter what the circumstances, mismatch or possibilities. Proving that you care about the work, the people, the outcomes – learning that your leadership care about you as well as the work and the outcomes – helps you figure out who isn’t feeling cared for and do what you can to prove them wrong. Even if that person is you.

Commit to strategies

Naming this is the start but it can’t be the end of helping. Solving every problem leading to the overwhelm or frustration is likely impossible. What is completely possible is deciding what you will do to improve any of these:

• Demonstrating progress

• Growing mastery

• Connecting to purpose

• Improving belonging

• Offering effective support

How might this algorithm be useful to you?

All my best,

Dr. G