"When Your Employee Tells You They're Burned Out"

This is an interesting article in the Harvard Business Review about employee burnout. But it's missing a key component: what if an employee doesn't approach their boss and tell them that they are feeling burned out? I would argue that more typically, that's the case. Many employees do not go to their bosses until it's too late to help the situation. It's really up to the employer to have a pulse on how staff is feeling by paying close attention. How can employers do that?

1. Take time to speak one-on-one with each employee in a casual setting where you are not asking them to do anything, but just checking in to see how they are doing.

2. Listen to their answers and dig deeper if it seems that something is on their mind. If they can trust you, they will tell you what you need to know.

3. If they tell you that everything is great, then take that time to connect on a personal level so that when they do have an issue, they feel a bit more like they can go to you.

Who has time for this? Believe me, I understand the question. If your leadership team splits it up among several people to check in with the frontline staff, then you'll be able to find the time to do it. It is an investment that will pay well in the end.