New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern's decision to step down last week was a high profile and sad example of a leader running on empty.
She had complex expectations to navigate as Prime Minister and her compassionate leadership could be viewed as social change in action.
We should recognise this example of burnout as our own call for social change. The World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases recognises burnout as a specific work-related stress – a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. It can reduce productivity at work and lead to feelings of apathy and detachment.
An accumulation of built-up stress can lead to negative emotions by investing too much into something emotionally, intellectually or physically without actively caring for yourself. Glassdoor reports burnout is up 48% in the UK and workers are feeling more exhausted than ever before.
The world of work has changed. The great resignation and changing demographics have resulted in fewer employees doing more work, backfilling vacant posts while fulfilling their day-to-day responsibilities in an era of post-pandemic confusion around job expectations. Work-life imbalance has shifted too, with Zoom and Teams giving us the ability to work more remotely than ever, but the flipside finds we are catching up on evenings and weekends – many struggling to disconnect and left feeling overwhelmed or isolated.
It is vital organisations have a clear plan to build sustainable and resilient workforces. Setting clear boundaries that encourage healthy work-life balance, equipping managers to spot and address burnout risks within their teams and empowering employees with mental health tools are just some of the ways organisations can combat burnout. Multi-generational, diverse workforces deserve tailored and modern staffing tactics that support, connect and enrich them to meet the challenges of the years ahead, without emptying their tanks.
Greg Hayes is a director at Tile Hill Executive Recruitment
This article is sponsored content for The MJ
