Are You Burning Out? Signs of Executive Fatigue – And What to Do About Them

A client showed up to a session recently, and he was very clearly not himself. He was five minutes late to our session – completely out of character – and when he showed up, the first thing he did was let out a huge sigh. “I’m tired,” he said, “and I just can’t seem to get ahead.” 

He’s identified the symptom, not the cause. 

I’ve seen it a lot lately: this is textbook executive burnout. Two and a half years into the pandemic, much of the working world has changed, and not all of it for the best. Perhaps you started working longer hours during the early parts of the lockdown and never stopped. You’ve had disruptions to how your teams work, how budgets are created, how your products and services are delivered (if they get there at all), and how you interact with the people above, below, and alongside you. And now with an unstable economy, you may have to shoulder more of the burden of keeping the team running amidst hiring freezes, layoffs, and wage stagnation. 

The biggest thing that I noticed since March 2020: it’s easier than ever before to book a meeting. “Just a quick check-in” meant trading someone stopping by your office for a day full of 30-minute meetings. Zoom fatigue is real, as is the real disconnection we feel when the pleasantries of sharing space are stripped out. 

Feeling a little crispy around the edges? You’re not alone. Development Dimensions International’s Global Leadership Forecast last year found that:

• Nearly 60% of leaders reported they feel used up at the end of the workday, which is a strong indicator of burnout.
• Approximately 44% of leaders who feel used up at the end of the day expected to change companies to advance; 26% expected to leave within the next year.
• Only 20% of surveyed leaders believed they were effective at leading virtually.

This is a crisis, and yet many leaders are still scared to name it. As my client said, “I’m just tired.” I’ve also heard “It’s just busy lately” and “I’ll get through it” more times than I can count. It’s burnout, plain and simple. 

Perhaps these sound familiar: 

• You take a weeklong vacation and completely unplug – only to come back to work stressed and overwhelmed;
• Your meetings leave you frustrated and feeling unproductive;
• You can’t seem to get the answers you need from management;
• You’re multitasking during meetings just to keep up – then finding yourself called upon and unable to remember what was being discussed.
• You find yourself overscheduled and unproductive, paralyzed by the sheer number of meetings. 

Burnout is dangerous, too. Not only is it leading to quiet quitting and lower productivity, it’s a major contributor to the rise in depression and even suicide rates. 

So, what can be done about it? A few tips may help:

• Self-care during the day. Schedule time for self-care, like going for a walk, stretching, or meditating. Stepping away from the busyness can help you feel refreshed and productive.
• Block your calendar. I don’t think the inventors of email would believe the volume that’s pouring into our inboxes every day. Blocking your calendar for meeting-free catch up time can help you get ahead.
• Decline meetings. Often, my clients tell me that they’re being pulled into meetings and don’t know why they’re there. Figure out which ones you can skip, ask for the agenda and the notes, and use that time otherwise. 
• Hire a career coach. We’re not just handy for resumes, cover letters, and mock interviews. A career coach can actually help you stay in your job and make it work for you. 

Of course, there may be bolder measures available to you, including making a career switch. But the first step is identifying and naming the problem. 

You’re not just busy. You’re not just tired. 

Say it with me: “I’m burned out.”

Obsidian Coaching is offering a limited-time, six-week Burnout Bootcamp for executives. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation here to learn more.