Burnt out yet?

Are you burnt-out yet? Don’t worry, it may just be a matter of time. A recent article HRM Online (READ IT HERE) notes that “nearly two-thirds of Aussie workers are experiencing high levels of burnout.” Typically, at this point most articles would now launch into a 5 (or 10 or 15) point plan of how the organization’s leaders need to address this issue for their workers. Instead, the article essentially asks, “who is looking after the leaders, who are feeling the stain even more?”

Recent changes in employer’s legal responsibilities around psychological hazards puts added stress and strains on the leaders. Not surprisingly the leaders’ levels of burnout are higher than their teams. This creates a difficult challenge for leaders.

The advice in the article is for organisations to take a holistic approach, beginning at the top of the organisation, in order for leaders to be able to manage their new additional responsibilities. Interestingly, the article notes that “leaders are highly contagious when it comes to metal health and wellbeing in workplaces.” That is, if leaders are feeling “less burnt out themselves, it’s less likely their team will be too.” There are a number of suggested strategies for leaders and organizations to try in order to keep their leaders psychologically safe.