Three Tips for Avoiding Team Burnout

UPDATED OCTOBER 2021

Like it or not, the pandemic has us all used to a new kind of work structure. Whether you’re managing a team or working on your own, the possibility of employee burnout remains real. Remote work from home, inconsistent interaction with colleagues and lack of in-person teambuilding opportunities are all causing a feeling of disconnection. Add to that, the reality that work and life are more integrated than ever before—and not in a good way—and you’ve got a recipe for burnout.

No doubt—we’ve all been doing what we can to keep going. Trying to stay positive (hooray, pajama pants), revamping our workday (sure, take that call while walking the dog) and rethinking job duties (Zoom Happy Hour this Friday—why not?) all help alleviate the stress that causes burnout.

Here are four ways you can boost morale and avoid a crash with your valued employees:

Listen to employees’ needs

Create an outlet for employees to talk about or write down their concerns. Be open to new ideas and offer space and time your team needs to stay motivated. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and we’ll get there. Showing grace, understanding and a willingness to make even the smallest changes will help to avoid burnout on your team. For more on how to assess your employees’ needs, check out our free e-book, Motivating Your Team: Three Steps to Success.

Encourage self-care and time off

While travel is still a bit perilous, everyone needs time off. Be a self-care advocate! Simply reminding employees to take breaks, for activities like reading, yoga or going outside for a walk (no calls on this one!) allows them space to refresh and recharge. Encouraging your team to find balance, spend time with family and enjoy the small stuff is a great way to keep positivity high.

Rethink the Work Week

If at all possible—reconsider the 5-day work week. It’s not just a ploy to make the weekend longer—studies have shown that many employees have been more productive while working from home and that a 4-day work week can make them more productive still! We’ve recently implemented this change at True Talent Group to help us work on the business and find that ever-allusive work-life balance. Even if you aren’t in the business to make a complete change like this for your team, offering flexibility in the hours your team works can have similar benefits.

Rework the work that you have—True Talent Group can help

Do you need contract or freelance talent to help your team out? This is where we offer our expertise. We have One other reason for burnout: your team simply might be overworked. Do you need contract or freelance marketing talent to help lighten the load? Lean on our expertise with contract, full-time, and project-based staffing to identify what kind of help and talent you need. We have access to thousands of vetted digital, marketing and creative talent throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. If you can reimagine the work and get new talent on board to help with projects, it’s much more likely that you’ll avoid burnout. Let us help you find marketing and creative talent that fits your needs.