Kathleen knows that one of her staff is experiencing burnout. Which of the following is the best thing for her to do?
A. Advise her staff to go on vacation.
B. Ignore her observations; it will be resolved even without intervention.
C. Remind her to show loyalty to the institution.
D. Let the staff ventilate her feelings and ask how she can be of help.
Correct Answer: D. Let the staff ventilate her feelings and ask how she can be of help.
Reaching out and helping the staff is the most effective strategy in dealing with burnout. Knowing that someone is ready to help makes the staff feel important; hence her self-worth is enhanced. Even though the entire team may be experiencing burnout, have conversations on an individual basis. Addressing the entire group can be intimidating and make it difficult for members to open up.
Option A: Allowing them to have more flexible schedules can be a huge help. This gives them the time and space to address their personal needs, whether that’s serving as a caregiver, going to doctor’s appointments, or whatever it is they need to address.
Option B: Regardless of the reason, it’s important to speak directly with the team members to understand the burnout’s root cause. This will not only help identify how to best help the team, but it’ll also demonstrate that the manager has noticed they’re not being themselves and want to help them overcome this obstacle.
Option C: It’s easy to approach an employee and assume what the problem is. Try to avoid doing this. Create an open space for your team members to confirm what’s actually going on, instead of steering the conversation in a certain direction.