| In today's 24/7 business environment, burnout is | | | | This practice manifests as leaders listen to |
| a major problem among business executives. How | | | | themselves, to their senior leadership team, to |
| much time and money is your company losing | | | | individual employees, and to a higher power. A |
| because of executive burnout? Do you know you | | | | leader can also provide guidelines for employees |
| can avoid burnout in your staff--and reap higher | | | | that encourage respectful listening. The resources |
| profits? Here are four things you can do this | | | | of everyone's inner wisdom then are brought to |
| week to avoid business burnout now and in the | | | | bear on problem-solving and more effective |
| future: | | | | decisions result. Focused listening times can be |
| Focus on self-transformation. For example, | | | | employed during staff meetings, daily briefings, or |
| practice re-writing your job description given your | | | | during separate designated listening times. Jim |
| evolving challenges, and think about how to | | | | Fitzpatrick, CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Mason |
| become the perfect candidate for the job you | | | | City, Iowa, commits himself to listening to the |
| already have. A leader who focuses first on | | | | pulse of the organization, especially when making |
| self-transformation will have the energy and | | | | major decisions. Recently he appointed a Mission |
| perspective needed to thrive. A focus on | | | | Discernment task force to help him listen to the |
| self-transformation also inspires confidence from | | | | wisdom of clinicians, financial managers, and |
| employees, and can keep a leader attuned to | | | | chaplains in deciding how to address |
| issues of organizational transformation. Bob | | | | pre-adolescent mental health needs. The result? |
| Carlson, board member and recently retired | | | | An effective partnership with a local outpatient |
| co-CEO of Reell Precision Manufacturing in St. Paul, | | | | mental health agency that increased energy and |
| MN, took seriously the challenge of living up to | | | | vision for all concerned. |
| Reell's values and principles and in the process, | | | | Take breaks. Everyone needs times of pulling |
| found himself transformed: "Having to frame | | | | away for refreshment and perspective. Leaders |
| decisions within the context of Reell's values and | | | | can't afford not to take time apart for renewal. |
| principles, has made me a better person." As a | | | | This can be as simple as a walk outside at lunch, |
| result, he found that he had more energy, made | | | | or a commute listening to music that feeds one's |
| better decisions, and that employees had more | | | | soul. Seeking out supportive friends or mentors |
| confidence in him. | | | | both inside and outside of the organization can |
| Empower others to take ownership of the | | | | also help refresh the leader. Furthermore, leaders |
| organization's values and mission. Help employees | | | | can provide opportunities for their teams to be |
| to find their personal passions and connect those | | | | refreshed, thus lightening their load. Etta Erickson, |
| to the organization's values and mission. Once | | | | program director of oncology programs at |
| employees share the vision for the organization's | | | | HealthEast, a healthcare system in the Twin Cities |
| future, the leader's personal load is lightened. Jean | | | | in Minnesota, holds an annual overnight retreat for |
| Quinn, co-director of Sophia Housing in Dublin, | | | | the oncology leaders' partnership council. Retreats |
| Ireland, is committed to empowering everyone in | | | | include meditation time as well as time for telling |
| her organization. She recently trained her | | | | funny stories and playing golf. Frequent breaks |
| managers in how to see themselves as leaders | | | | renew energy, give new perspective, and increase |
| so they would feel comfortable taking more | | | | creativity and productivity. |
| responsibility. Her load was lightened and the | | | | There are dozens more ways to avoid burnout |
| organization's effectiveness increased dramatically. | | | | and achieve greater effectiveness by bringing |
| Practice listening. Listening is a powerful tool for | | | | spirituality into the workplace, but just start by |
| understanding an organization, building relationships, | | | | following these four simple strategies and see |
| and knowing how to invest energy strategically. | | | | how quickly your energy is renewed. |