Marketing Management: How to Beat Burnout in Your Employees and Yourself?

Answer 1

Burnout is a common problem in the marketing industry. Often this presents itself as employee turnover. Other times it shows itself through a decline in work quality. The important thing to keep in mind is that burnout happens over time. It is a not a sudden or overnight development.

Spotting and Preventing Burnout

A manager must be vigilant in spotting and preventing burnout in your employees. This can be accomplished through getting to know employees in a casual setting. Taking employees to lunch or for a drink is a terrific way to get to know them as a person. Building relationships make spotting burnout easier, but it can also stave it off. Often people will overlook negative aspects of a job because of personal relationships in the workplace.

Observation is another strategy for discerning burnout in employees. Watching someone’s affect with other coworkers is an acceptable means to determine attitude and enthusiasm.

A simple strategy that many people overlook is simply asking questions. A simple, “how are you?” goes a long way with employees. Another appropriate inquiry is to ask whether the employee needs anything.

Acknowledge the job, which the employee is doing. Simply saying, “Thanks for the work on the new account” is valuable to employees, who often feel under appreciated. Validation and respect stave off burnout, as well. Encourage work-life balance in all employees.

Dealing with Burnout When it Happens

Offer an employee something new and challenging. Although it may sounds counterintuitive to ask a burned out employee to do something new, nothing could be further from reality. A stimulating project that is outside of the normal, day-to-day routine can jump start a burned out employee.

Leadership opportunities can be a reliable source of stimulation for a burned out employee. Offer a position of leadership in an area in which the employee is extremely talented.

Reduce the workload of monotonous tasks for the burned out employee for a time. Often a shift in the repetitive, tedious routine can give the employee a breath of fresh air and allow for new ideas.

Burnout can rob a company of valuable, talented employees. It is up to the marketing manager to safeguard employees against burnout.