Feeling in Control Can Prevent You from Feeling Burned Out

 

Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

*     *     *

There are lots of reasons people feel burned out at work — an overstuffed to-do list, tasks that seem meaningless, a lack of connection with others.

o One of the largest contributors to burnout is feeling that you lack control. If you don’t have autonomy in your job or a say in the decisions that affect your professional life, it can take a toll on your well-being.

o When you find yourself feeling not in control, step back and ask why. Does your boss contact you at all hours, so you’re always on call? Are the team’s priorities constantly shifting, so you can never get ahead?

o Once you know the reasons, figure out what you can do to address them. Maybe you could establish better boundaries with your boss, or get the team to agree that certain priorities will remain constant.

Having control in even a few areas can help you avoid burnout later on.

This tip is adapted from 6 Causes of Burnout, and How to Avoid Them,” by Elizabeth Grace Saunders.

Here’s a direct link to dozens of other Management Tips.

Posted in

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.