Today, we have more burnout than ever. One of the things I think that really is affecting people is that they are not aligned with the right team or purpose. Let me give you some more context behind this thought. As a principal or owner of your firm, you want all your people delivering top-notch customer service and quality design or construction services to your clients. Your job is to make sure they understand your firm’s mission and vision.
You want your employees to have the same set of standards you have of yourself and of the firm. If the employees who are implementing your vision do not understand the expectations or purpose, they may get OR be burnt out. The reason I say this is that their mission may be different from yours; therefore, they’re trying to achieve a different goal than you are. Then they get frustrated because your goals and their goals are not aligned.
You have to make sure that your team is aligned and understands the firm’s vision, mission, and purpose. Expectations must be set and communicated consistently. Those who experience burnout think about why you are burnt out. If you strive for a purpose in your role, and your firm is not aligned with your mission or vision then there’s a disconnect. It’s like an uphill climb and never reaching the top. You keep trying and being hit with boulders or hurdles that can’t be jumped over.
For example, if you are a marketing director trying to instigate change in a firm through the interview process for project presentations and are hitting a brick wall, then you may feel like your advice and suggestions are falling on deaf ears. The leadership team continually complains about the project presentations but doesn’t want to make any changes to make it better for the team.
This is frustrating, because they want you to fix it without implementing a real solution to the challenge. As the marketing director, you finally just give up and stop making any suggestions on effective marketing, because the leadership team didn’t listen to you about the solutions you were providing.
Whether you are a principal, owner, or an employee, you want to make an impact in your work. I think that’s why many people go into the design and construction industry. They want to make an impact in the communities where they live and work. They can see the fruits of their labor, and it stands for years and leaves a legacy on their behalf. Having impact decreases your chances of burnout because you have purpose and can see that you are making a difference in your job and in your community.
Burnout is a real thing but can be overcome when aligned with the right team and right firm. This goes for both the firm hiring for a position and the employee looking for a position.
Finding the right team that appreciates your passion and talent is what creates a loyal employee who is engaged in the workplace and delivers quality work with a smile on their face.
