Welcome Back, Reader

A road sign that reads "Burnout" is pointing forward against a harsh, sunny sky.

It seems like everyone is burned out...

And if you don't think you're burned out, every article you read tells you that you are!

How do you know for sure?

Sometimes all you have to do is ask your family or friends... they see it, they feel it.

It has to do with how much energy you have left AFTER you leave the office.

How often you feel that you HAVE to check in on work after hours... even if just for ONE quick thing.

How truly PRESENT are you with your family and friends?

HINT: Sitting next to them scrolling on social media or watching TV is NOT being present.

The new normal isn't pretty...

Most companies are tightening up the purse strings... running leaner than ever to do even more with even less.

Job security is no longer the norm... turnover, both voluntary and involuntary, has doubled the previously normal industry standard rates.

And the pace of change seems to be reaching the speed of sound... keeping up feels like running in a hamster wheel.

So what does that mean for leaders?

It means that now, even more than ever, we need servant leaders. Leaders who have a human-centric focus to foster employee engagement, boost morale, and provide crucial constructive feedback.

This is no longer only the focus of HR. It is a function of leadership.

Without true leadership, turnover will become the loss of your best employees, your culture will become toxic, and productivity will plummet.

How do you lead in times like this?

First, take a breath! (Slow breath in... slow breath out. Repeat as needed.)

Then remember that you are human, that your team is made up of human beings (not humans doing.)

The easiest thing to do is point fingers and shout orders. But micromanaging and bullying are taxing, both on you and your team. It creates more work, more animosity, and less productivity.

The harder, but more impactful thing to do is have real conversations, treat your team like adults, and focus on the people getting the work done.

When people feel seen, heard, and valued, they become more engaged in the work and more productive. When you prioritize your people, you also prioritize yourself.

You are a reflection of your actions, not your words.

Let's look at an example case study...

A PBM was recently going through bankruptcy. During this time they experienced 92% turnover. The longest tenured remaining executive had only 2 year's seniority!

Can you imagine the burnout people were feeling from all the stress on top of working more to cover for those who had left?

The company leadership decided to switch their model to a "we care about you" approach. They pursued conversations talking about life - not just work, asking about career development goals for the next 3-5 years, and focusing on the human side of their employees.

As a result, their 92% turnover rate changed to a 90% retention rate, even while employees were still worried about keeping their jobs through the bankruptcy!

The consultant helping them through the bankruptcy was shocked at the retention transformation, in spite of the circumstances.

THIS is the DIFFERENCE that caring about PEOPLE makes!

📩 Reader, when you're ready... just hit Reply...

I'm here to help your team adapt to impactful leading... yes, even through burnout. 📩

Remembering We Are Human

That is the key, Reader! You are human, your team is made up of humans...

so why do we find it so hard to act like it?

So many workplace cultures focus on $$$ or results.

EQ, authenticity, transparency... it's all about treating others like humans, not widgets.

As an Empowered Leader, you know that treating your team with respect leads to improved engagement, productivity, and retention (for the right people anyway!)

And you know that, ultimately, this leads to the improved company bottom line and a happier, more rewarding workplace culture.

If Emotional Intelligence (EQ) still seems like a buzzword to you,

or you want to know more about what it is... and how to "do it",

here is a free gift from me to you: