What do you do if your well-being is at risk due to burnout caused by lack of boundaries as a leader?

It can be helpful to understand that burnout happens when we experience persistent work-related stress. Many leaders are under incredible stress right now, both from above, from their teams, constant change in the environment, and from their own sense of responsibility. Our bodies are not designed for this ever-present, never-subsiding levels of stress. If you don't find ways to complete the stress cycle from any one source of stress before encountering the next stressful situation, it will wipe you out, undermine your effectiveness, and threaten your health. No one is immune from this.

Recognizing fatigue, irritability, insomnia or declining performance means it's already there. Early signs of burnout include negative thinking about work, decreased effectiveness, and rumination about upcoming events. If you find yourself asking why you are trying to survive in difficult conditions and can only come up with external reasons, it may be another indicator that you're at risk of experiencing mental health issues.

If you're experiencing burnout due to a lack of boundaries as a leader, it's crucial to recognize the signs. Persistent fatigue, decreased job satisfaction, and irritability are all indicators that your well-being is at risk. Leadership demands resilience, but it's essential to remain self-aware. Acknowledging these symptoms early allows you to address them proactively before they worsen. Remember, prioritizing your well-being is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step toward maintaining effectiveness in your role.

If you're a leader who wants to set boundaries that actually stick, focus on developing your self-awareness first. Here's why 👇🏽 Self-awareness helps us understand our emotions, thoughts, values, behaviours, personal limits and needs. The more self-aware you are, the better you'll be able to: 👉🏽 Identify what makes you stressed and uncomfortable 👉🏽 Recognise your own internal states and triggers 👉🏽 Communicate your needs effectively without freaking out 👉🏽 Help differential between healthy and unhealthy behaviours in yourself and others 👉🏽 Set boundaries that are aligned to your needs 👉🏽 Recognise when boundaries are being violated (by yourself or by others) 👉🏽 Take early action to address the situation 🚀

Many leaders find it difficult to set boundaries, as it requires effective communication and may challenge established routines. This can lead to feelings of failure and reluctance to proceed. However, it is important to start with small steps to gradually introduce the concept to your team and superiors. If you make drastic changes, you may receive negative or questioning reactions, which can discourage you from setting boundaries altogether. This can lead to a cycle of trying to regain approval by investing more energy, which can be counterproductive.

When it comes to boundaries at work or personal, no one will protect them for you. Determine your non-negotiables, the occasions or circumstances in which you won’t allow work to impede, schedule those events and honor them, and expand your boundaries from there.

Take active measures in delegation of authority, responsibility and autonomy. The most prevalent reason behind burnout is that leaders believe that they must get everything done themselves instead of having faith in the people hired and appointed to getting the jobs done. If you grant any employee the authority to do anything yet you withhold their autonomy and the responsibility, you handicap your people in getting their work done. Mistakes happen and we can fix those. What's important is subordinates are given latitude, scopes and depth thus relieving leadership from having the burden of leading as well as doing. Also, appoint people around you who will make sure you remain on a healthy schedule and monitor your state.

From my personal experience, I have learned that it is crucial not to overthink things too much. Once you start feeling the symptoms of burnout, it means you are already in the process of experiencing it. Burnout is not like switching a light on or off; it is a gradual process, and there may be days when you feel better, which can lead to the assumption that everything is fine. Therefore, seeking another perspective from a mentor or a coach who is not personally connected to you or part of your work environment is essential to gain the perspective you need at that point.

Self care has a reputation for being "soft" but the reality is that setting clear boundaries by delegating tasks, practicing time management, and fostering open communications is key to your own consistency and longevity as a leader.

It is important to teach self-care and self-nurturing in schools. Understanding that taking care of yourself comes first before helping others is crucial. Self-care should not be viewed as a means to achieving a goal, but rather as the act of listening to your inner self.

Something I've learned myself is: don't try to change everything at once. You'll just feel more overwhelmed. Use the Pareto Principle to analyze what 20% you need to change to achieve 80% of the results in reducing your stress levels. Make a plan, and be transparent with your team about why changes need to be made, the specific changes you want to implement, and your expectations in the short and long term. Be honest and ask for your team's support. Ask them to point out if you're not sticking to your own delegation plan, for example.

The Journey Back-Some Thoughts: Identify root causes - Drivers of burnout (workload, priorities) Prioritize "vital few versus the worthwhile many" - Focus on high-impact, essential activities Boundaries for the team FIRST - Model work-life balance and reasonable expectations for them first Involve the team - Collaborate on identifying priorities and sustainable practices Delegate and empower - Workload and decision-making Seek support systems - Mentors, coaches, and employee assistance Implement self-care - Prioritize sleep, exercise, nutrition, relaxation Reflect and adjust - Continuously evaluate progress and refine approach Foster sustainable culture - Embed healthy boundaries and well-being into organizational values

Many individuals view psychological problems such as burnout and depression as a sign of weakness. However, the truth is that the more you acknowledge these issues, the more you can learn about yourself. Through this process, you can develop new coping strategies and gradually build a higher level of resilience that will remain with you forever. It's important to talk about these challenges, as doing so can encourage others to take responsibility for their own mental health.