Leadership Mistakes That Push Team to Burnout

The cure for burnout isn’t necessarily self-care. Leadership mistakes that push teams to burnout deserve as much attention.

Credit: Author

Leaders are constantly under pressure to drive business growth, deliver results and bring in new initiatives that will move the organization forward. They aren’t assigned a set of tasks that they need to finish each day. Ambiguity, uncertainty, navigating challenges, aligning stakeholders and making complex decisions make up a large part of their role.

They are expected to create a culture of excellence where employees strive to push the boundaries of their own self-imposed limitations and unlock their hidden potential. Growing people while growing business is a part of their job because no organization can succeed without growing its people. Balancing the two is critical because leaning too much on either side can prevent them from achieving their goals.

Managing these expectations isn’t always easy and too many leaders can falter on this path. They may succumb to pressure and act in ways that destroy the morale of their people instead of lifting them up. They may turn aggressive, work 24/7, rush into decisions or behave in ways that pushes their team to the edge with feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, negativity and a sense of ineffectiveness towards their job. Letting these feelings fester without proactively taking measures can ultimately lead to burnout — a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress.

Burnout may show up as tiredness at first, but can soon have detrimental effects on team:

1. Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
2. Reduced productivity or effectiveness at work.
3. Difficulty finding meaning or satisfaction in work.
4. Feeling undervalued or unappreciated.
5. Increased irritability or frustration.
6. Emotional outbursts or sudden mood swings.
7. Procrastinating or taking longer to complete tasks.
8. Avoiding responsibilities or calling in sick frequently.
9. Feeling overwhelmed or trapped…