Melissa Doman

Now, in addition to that, there can be some tougher conversations to have, and this is more of an advanced tactic.

about leaders talking to team members even before disclosing anything by saying you know I realize we don't really talk about mental health but I feel like you know there's a lot going on in the world and within the company and I want us to be able to have that conversation as a team where I can support you sometimes you can support me you know does that feel helpful for our team is that something we'd be willing to do what are the shared behaviors we'll have around that

So before you even share anything, that's a really good way to temperature check and see about the willingness people have as a group before you start potentially disclosing anything.

So you're establishing the psychological safety that your disclosures won't be unfairly categorized or punished or misunderstood.

So those are the two ways I would recommend that they do that.

it can be both.

You know, I think it really depends on what that person is going through.

And the way I talk about burnout is when you reach such a psychological and physical state where your nervous system and brain basically say to you, I was giving you warning signs.

You weren't listening to me.

So this is why we can't have nice things.

And this is why I'm shutting you down because I can't trust you to take a step back.

And there are lots of shades of burnout.

So for some people, it's sheer workload.

You know, we we live in a time where, honestly, previous generations would be rolling in their graves if they saw how hard we work, how fast we work, what's expected of us.

It's just because we do it doesn't mean it goes without consequence necessarily.

So the amount of work people do is exponentially growing.

And even though we, quote, handle it, it is too much.

And then separately, there are people where it's not workload and they may manufacture their own sense of urgency or emergency work.

or why people need them, or when things need to get done, or who am I if I'm not this workhorse, and who am I if I'm not the person that everybody can count on.

And in addition to workload, when you're trying to live up to your own unreasonable standards, you can drive yourself into the ground, even if the environment around you isn't.