Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes

This Week’s Issue

• Quick Intro

• HBR - Burnout

• Suggested Readings

A Quick Intro

Hey ya’ll, thanks for popping in to read this special edition of Grade K MBA! Recently I took on a new leadership role at a new company. Due to some wonky circumstances I found myself in charge of three different teams at the end of my first week on the job. To say it was a challenging first 45 days would be an understatement. Just as I was starting to feel some minor burnout, I came across an article in The Harvard Business Review that provided a lot of good advice on managing burnout in managers. I liked the advice so much that I wanted to break it down into a quick read and share an EXTRA, special, edition of the newsletter with all of you.

Dealing with Burnout as a Leader

The article I mentioned above is from the Harvard Business Review called "Here's How to Help Them Recharge" by by Rebecca Zucker . Read the whole thing here.

Recognize

Middle managers often get burned out because they are asked to do a lot from both the top and the bottom. They have to carry out plans from the top and coach teams from the bottom. It's important to recognize how tired they are and how hard they work every day. A study by Workhuman and Gallup shows that there is a link between recognizing employees and their well-being, which leads to better business results.

Reconnect

Burnout often leads to being alone. Promoting human connections, both in person and online, can help people feel less alone. Simple things like asking a coworker how they are doing or enjoying their birthdays or small wins can help build a sense of community, which can reduce stress and make people feel better.

Re-assess, Re-prioritize, and Re-distribute Work

Since new goals keep coming up, the workload often becomes too much to handle. Regular audits to find key areas and a reorganization of work can help relieve pressure. For peak times, try to get more resources, whether they are short or not.

Revise Team Agreements

Set up a setting where your team can set its own limits. This could mean not sending texts at night or on the weekend and setting days when you won't meet. These updated team agreements can give people a sense of control and ownership, which can help reduce small worries.

Regularly Check In

Keep in touch with your managers on a daily basis. Give them a safe place to talk about feeling overwhelmed, which will help them find good answers.

Relax and Reset

Lastly, tell managers to take a break that's worth their time. This step is important for renewing your mind and body. Make vacations a requirement, and set a good example by turning off everything while you're away.

There isn't a single way to deal with burnout, but using these strategies together will help your leaders and avoid future burnouts.

Suggested Reading

• We have a blog! - https://gradekmba.medium.com/

• The Harvard Business Review

Until Next Time

Thank you so much for giving this special edition issue of Grade K MBA a read. I hope it was interesting and engaging for you.

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Be Good!

~Dan