I have often seen the perils of burnout up close in professional and personal life over many years. As a coach and mentor it has been often clearer to me that having the blessing of many interests and hobbies like dance and art and sports in my life, I have steered away from burnout with a perspective shift. It helped balance my work and personal life.
But over the years watching people of all ages moving towards burnout due to many factors some avoidable and sometimes due to relentlessly challenging situations in their lives, occurrence of burnout is a reality sooner than you know.
Workaholics are the worst hit as often as Type A personalities. People in power positions founders challenged by their own hamster wheel climb , running their race, stressed and distressed between the managing and funding of their enterprises. To people who are intrinsically overt perfectionists trying to outdo themselves beyond abilities and suffering physically emotionally and mentally thinking that in doing so they have proved their worth. Likewise young students with extreme pressure from parents to perform well in something that they are not interested in. Have seen cases of students in engineering stream, forced to take it when their heart is in arts and humanities .
The difference is between enjoying the work and overworking is in feeling exhausted by the work you do to such an extent that you cannot connect with your self anymore.
When your passion turns in an obsession,
When you are pushing yourself over the brink without consideration for your own health.
Your absence affects your family When you think you are giving it all, but what you are giving is, stealing a loved ones time with you.
Imbalances you create in your life have a way of finding you and testing your life. Make sure to live life when you have it, with all of you.
Our own struggles seem the most difficult. Our journey of life may seem unique to us.And yet if we bring to awareness that this imagined spectrum of universe is a dot in the multitude of multiverses yet unknown, we realise our so called egoes are but a tool for motivating our life to keep us exploring the possibilities in our lifetime.
But instead of seeing the bigger picture we see ourselves as mammoth beings & as if only our life and our journey is important.
How far away from the truth we are?
If we only keep seeing our circle of life is but a spec in the cosmic ocean we will realize our truths as humans and learn to be in touch with our humanity.
Think of any organization, like a bouncing ball. No two moments are alike Change is order of things. In such moments the leaders at the top need all the support they can get from their team. And for that clarity in communication be it timely updates , to them & to the team is equally paramount.
When the ball bounces are extreme, it could be many factors, like the winds of change that’s affecting it. Let’s call it external forces be it political, economic,global changes and more…
No one can predict things to the T but if risks are part of the buisness, then leadership needs both resilience from the entire team and quick decision taking to keep the company ‘ball balancing’ afloat.
In times of internal instability from unexpected forces within the company, affecting the state of buisness the leaders need more than just attention to detail to bring the dissenting fragments and solve crisis .
It’s a given that even in stable times there is always going to be that bounce in the ball think of it as the pulse in the heartbeat. Just that the force and velocity is a little more manageable . Acknowledging it as a part of risk management makes it more realistic than procrastinating from planning for it.
Whatever be the force, the torque generated decides the nature of impact it has. Being prepared and building the resilience muscle and creating a strong srategic team in easier times, helps in times of crisis management.
Embracing the changes is about understanding the experiences of highs and lows as a part of the journey. And most of all seeing the setbacks as an opportunity to bounce back stronger again.
It makes a world of difference in a ‘ever busy world’ that’s always checking time. Giving time and energy to understand another with empathy will help shift perspectives for the better.
In the course of my career over the years handling teams of various departments, people management became my forte while experiencing many instances which needed agility in communication.
Here are few pointers…
If you can help it thoroughly prepare yourself with research so that you are prepared to handle any objections well.
Try to choose when and where to have a difficult conversation.
Always start with a positive mindset and speak with concern without blaming .
Make sure you are clear about what you want to communicate. And deliver your stance clearly without any ambiguity.
Speak in the right tone as per the situation.
Listen actively well to acknowledge emotions and understand so you can respond than react.
If there is too much tension or another impasse it is alright to pause, take a short timely break to diffuse tension and then recoup
Be focussed on what you wish to communicate and steer the conversation if it veers off topic.
Be open to alternatives and perspectives and see if you can find common ground to stay flexible to foster collaboration.
An interesting quote on relationships I read this morning…
The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it’s not without doubt but in spite of doubt.
Rollo May
As I reflected on the above words a few thoughts came to me…
On life and relationships
Is there an interplay of doubt and commitment?
Is there commitment when in doubt?
What happens when doubt creeps in the committed?
Whenever they intersect there are conflicts
Whether at opposition or not
Both are in thoughts
Dashing from one extreme to another
At times contradicting at times rationalising
And returning back to apparent normalcy
When doubt dances in, commitment feels the burn
When commitment is strong, doubt rests on the back burner.
Have always felt there needs to be trust in a relationship as much as compromise else even the strongest of relationships fall apart.
I have received this poem below through a social media forward.
And I think I needed to read it today.
It put many things in perspective.
You see, there have been some small and inexpensive things missing at home . We have two house helpers And I was not sure who is the culprit.
They have been with us for a while and I have senior parents who live at home so I was letting it go and keep calm, because it was easier as it was causing a lot of unnecessary confusion and doubt.
In the meantime two months ago I replaced one of them. And I had felt a sense of relief somehow. And today the other is about to go on leave for the customary annual holiday. It will mean a lot of work for me personally until I find a helper. Yet I have been feeling positive that better is happening and all is for a good reason. Sometimes we grin and bear for the fear of changing statesquo…
While I cannot get my lost things as I have no proof, I think I needed a calm perspective to help me find me a way…
While I do believe that we must take action on that which is within our control , these words touched a chord in me..
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
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