A burnt-out top manager – when to change everything but the job?

Experts who study burnout note that burnout occurs when people put in a lot of effort, working hard, to the point of exhaustion, but without visible results. In such situations, we feel angry, helpless, trapped and exhausted. The main characteristic of burnout is that people cannot or will not be able to do at work what they used to do well, what used to make them happy and enjoyable at work, and what now annoys them. So the question is when does a top manager really need to change jobs and get away from the environment that creates burnout, and when does he or she just need to “change his or her hairstyle?”.

Although burnout manifests itself differently from person to person, it does have some identifiable characteristics:

• Cynicism, negativity and irritability. The need to work in a team can make managers feel beleaguered, and social situations with colleagues can become less enjoyable. Burnout tends to spill over into both work and home environments – irritability, frustration or pressure felt at work often makes it difficult to communicate with colleagues and loved ones. Support and encouragement can become hard to come by due to the burnout sufferer’s difficulties in social situations and the desire to avoid more anxiety. We may see long-standing managers who are cynical or hostile about many of their subordinates’ initiatives.
• Self-isolation. At work, this can manifest itself as a tendency to close the office door, as excuses not to go to lunch with colleagues, as people suffering from burnout may start work very early in the morning and leave work late – all to avoid contact with other people.
• Insomnia and fatigue. Usually this starts with the person having difficulty falling asleep one or two nights a week, and sometimes the sleep disturbance occurs during stressful periods at work. Sleep disturbances are often linked to constant thoughts about supposedly insurmountable problems and unpleasant situations at work. In the later stages of burnout, insomnia is often a constant companion. Of course, this is also when chronic daytime fatigue sets in – all activities are demanding, the person has no energy, so they try to do as little as possible – even getting out of bed can be a difficult task. Total exhaustion affects not only productivity at work, but also the whole course of life.
• Weakened immune system. Burnout and exhaustion make people more likely to get sick, and the symptoms are more prolonged. Studies have shown that people who suffer from burnout are more prone to upper respiratory illnesses, stomach and intestinal problems and headaches.
• Depression and anxiety. The early stages of burnout include feelings of tension, anxiety, sadness and hopelessness. Many managers experiencing burnout report panic attacks and anxiety so intense that they start avoiding or abandoning the workplace altogether.

According to the experts, burnout should be understood as the body’s response to intolerable pressure and stress – it happens unconsciously. That’s why changing careers and jobs is one of the options for overcoming burnout. Of course, career change is not an option for everyone – another option is to change the management structures in the current workplace, and to promote cooperation and shared responsibility among employees.

Support from the environment – whether at home or at work – is essential when experiencing symptoms of burnout. A burnt-out manager needs a holiday first and foremost, because those who cannot remember when they took a holiday will be of no use to any shareholder. Once health is taken care of and motivation reserves replenished, one can look for a new company where one can once again feel the joy of doing the job one loves.