Leading Through Burnout: How Managers Can Protect Their Teams—and Themselves

Leading Through Burnout: How Managers Can Protect Their Teams—and Themselves

Burnout isn’t just an employee problem—it’s a leadership crisis too. If managers are overwhelmed, their teams will be too. Protecting yourself and your people from burnout must be a leadership priority.

Signs Your Team May Be Burning Out:

• Cynicism and detachment from work.
• Drop in work quality and creativity.
• Increased conflicts or emotional outbursts.

How Leaders Can Fight Burnout:

1. Model Healthy Behavior
​Take real breaks. End meetings early. Respect evenings and weekends. When leaders normalize rest, employees feel permission to rest too.
2. Prioritize Ruthlessly
Help teams focus on mission-critical work. Clear the clutter of endless low-value tasks.
3. Check-In Beyond Work
In regular 1:1s, ask about energy levels and emotional well-being, not just projects.
4. Invest in Team Capacity
Hire, automate, or shift resources when teams are stretched too thin. Chronic overwork isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a risk.

Final Thought
Healthy teams start with healthy leadership. Managing your own energy and mental well-being is one of the most powerful ways to protect your organization’s future.