What do you do if your brand strategy role is causing burnout?

One thing that I've experienced recently is that we set brand strategies and goals that are probably too ambitious for the reality of our brand or our team. We need to stay true to our reality and build up from there with clear and attainable goals.

Perhaps your brand strategy demands resources that are hard for your organization to provide, such as human resources, skills and expertise. Explore where the limitations are and mitigate the problems by training or outsourcing, whichever makes better business sense.

Take time off if possible to reset and regain perspective and evaluate what specifically is contributing most to the burnout: is it a high-pressure timeline, an overly ambitious scope, unrealistic demands, lack of autonomy, etc.? Address root causes and delegate or redistribute some tasks and responsibilities if your workload is unsustainable long-term. Speak to your manager about adjusting expectations. Reframe how you think about and approach work. Set boundaries so it doesn't bleed into personal time. Detach self-worth from job performance.

If you’re burning out it may be time to delegate more or expand your team. Hire experts to work with you. Another way to fight general burnout at work is to take walks during lunch and switch up your daily routine.

Make sure that you have hours dedicated personal hours where you’re not working. If something is outside of the scope of your role, recommend hiring an expert to work with you.

Set clear boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout from affecting other aspects of your life. If you need to, delegate, delegate, DELEGATE. Be realistic with the expectations for yourself and share them with your management or team members. Learn to decline more chores or responsibilities when your plate is already full. Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge, and consider using tactics like time-blocking to help you prioritize activities and manage your burden better.

In my opinion I would also see this being about boundaries with clients demands. Being really clear at the start about what the next steps and when they can expect to see the next piece of work does help and most are great about that. What we do is creative and creativity needs space to develop. When you have clients who constantly push for the next thing the next thing and the next, it is not encouraging you to create your best work. What I’d say is be careful who you take on as clients and be super clear at the beginning of the project. Also a quick update email at the end of the week is helpful during a project. Clients are busy too.

As a brand strategist you need to think clearly and creatively. You cannot let stress get in the way of that. So if you have too much work at the time I recommend you either re-negotiate the deadline or get help. There is no way around it and the market understands that more than you think

You're not a superhero, so stop trying to save the world all by yourself! 🦸♀️ It's time to set some clear boundaries and stick to them like glue. 📌 Communicate your limits to your boss and colleagues, and don't be afraid to say no when your plate is full. Remember, your well-being is not negotiable! 💪

Talk. In ideal world you would have a mentor or a sparring partner to share similar feelings but the truth is that most of us are pretty much alone with our tasks. Don't stay in your head but bravely speak out about your feelings to your closest colleagues. You will find out that people care about people and most of us are willing to listen.

Burnout is no joke, and it's important to address it to protect your well-being and effectiveness in your brand strategy role. Seek Support & Self-Care: Don't Go It Alone, talk to colleagues, a therapist, or a career coach. Sharing your struggles can be a weight off your shoulders and provide valuable insights. Also, Self-Care is essential: Prioritize activities that recharge you, like exercise, spending time in nature, or pursuing hobbies. Getting enough sleep and healthy meals is crucial too.

You don't have to go through this alone! 🤝 Reach out to your trusted colleagues, friends, or family members for a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Consider talking to a therapist or joining a support group for professionals in your field. Sometimes just naming your struggles out loud can take away their power. 🗣️

A mi me ha resultado muy útil tener un mentor y coach que ayude a lidiar con los desafíos que enfrentas. Además alguna aplicación como trello o notion podrían ayudar a hacer espacio para una cosa a la vez organizando y ordenando las tareas, descargando ahí todo para que no estés pendiente de muchas cosas al mismo tiempo.

A healthier employee leads to over well being of the organization aswell as more productivity. The hustle culture may seem very attractive in the short run but the long term impact is very destructive

Your health should be a priority. I like to focus on going to the gym regularly and eating well to ensure my physical and mental health is up to spec

I say again and again and again to myself and to everyone I know - Listen to your body. Your body tells you when you are doing or saying or accepting something that is does not align with your values, capabilities and intention. Do not second guess the signs your body gives you. Pay attention to your own body language to see what is it saying about the people you are working with and for. See how does it react to your strategies .. do you feel unusually anxious? Revisit and rebuild the strategy to align with your true skills, knowledge and intention. Thing is, if you are not willing to put your wellbeing first, how the heck are you going to sincerely look after a brand and its success planning?

An example I've seen is ruining sleep over last minute changes. Understanding that there is never a perfect slide, can help set realistic guardrails on your strat presentations. Getting myself as well as my team to be well rested, reassured and tickled with alleviating humor are some of the ways to manage burnouts during peak pressure. Another thing I do is not get ahead of myself with my ideas. Yes advertising is important and so is the responsibility of doing justice to any brand you serve. But pausing is essential to not just feel but deliver better from a productivity standpoint.

Practice mindfulness. Giving yourself the time to step away from any responsibility at work or home – even just 10 minutes – goes a long way. Apps like Headspace, Insight Timer, Calm, or my favourite Healthy Minds are fantastic guides.

Burnout in brand strategy roles often stems from relentless deadliness, ambitious goals and an inability to identify trigger points. To counter this, break down large projects into smaller manageable tasks with realistic deadlines to reduce overwhelm. Encourage a culture of open communication where team members can voice concerns about workload or deadlines without the fear of judgement. Consider implementing “no meeting days” or dedicated time blocks for uninterrupted work to promote deep focus and productivity. Experiment with flexible work arrangements, allowing team members to work from locations that inspire creativity and reduce stress.

Be willing to make changes in your work environment, routines, or mindset to minimize stress and prevent burnout. This could include distributing duties, renegotiating deadlines, or seeking out new chances for growth and development. Adopt a growth mentality and see setbacks as chances to learn and progress. Focus on developing resilience and adaptability to deal with the inevitable ups and downs of your work.

People Will Choose Unhappiness Over Uncertainty Some opt for familiar discomfort to the unknown challenges that come with change. The so-called devil you know versus the one you don’t. And it’s this fear of the unknown that leaves people stuck in limbo. Face your fears. Get unstuck. Be happy.

Changing the focus in relation to the established brand strategy can be a great alternative to avoid (several) burnouts. Being sensitive to new learning and skills or even considering a change of environment or role are bold but relevant options. Often, a change has the power to provide a new perspective on life and career. In my opinion, it can be uplifting and meaningful to consider embracing new opportunities that can revitalize interest in life and work.

Burnout is a serious threat, so don't ignore it. Build regular reflection time into your schedule. Be honest with yourself. What's causing the stress? Unrealistic deadlines, lack of support, the work itself? Identity the root cause. Set boundaries, communicate your limits and learn to say 'no'. Delegate whenever possible. Focus on self-care. Schedule breaks, prioritize activities outside of work, and make sleep non-negotiable.

The Weaknesses that Hurt the Most are the Ones You’re Unaware of Self-awareness is crucial for personal growth. Identifying and addressing unknown weaknesses can lead to positive change. Your path? Regular self-reflection and seeking feedback from others can help you uncover areas for improvement. You may want to start by asking trusted teammates or someone who nearly hired you once, but didn’t. Because sometimes you have to start from the outside to get to the inside.

In this “journaling” really helps. It’s you and a piece of paper. Write your heart out and set realistic goals you want to accomplish.

Regularly acknowledge and celebrate milestones, no matter how small. This boosts morale and reminds the team that their efforts are valued.

Pienso que es importante ser sobre todo adaptable y versátil para convertir los problemas y cambios en oportunidades de mejora continua. Saber que lo que hagas siempre es perfectible y que lo importante es tomar acción con responsabilidad y visión

Do less things. Simply said, harder to execute. We often feel the need to have many on-going projects all at once. We like to feel busy. At least for a while. But what happens over time is this: - we make promise we can’t keep - we miss deadlines - we get even more work on our plate, because now we’re behind with everything - we loose credibility amongst our colleagues and clients - we become stressed and eventually burn out Realising that by doing fewer things we can achieve more, has been the singel biggest change for me in terms of burn out.

Take a break! Do other things that interest you, step out, spend time with Friends and Family... Having a repeated circle of activities can be tiring, taking a break and going back when you feel fully energized mentally mitigates burnout ... rinse and repeat.

Investigate flexible work arrangements or accommodations that can benefit your well-being, such as remote work, reduced hours, or shortened workweeks. Advocate for systemic changes inside your organization to address burnout-causing factors such as excessive expectations, poor communication, or an overwork culture. Remember that treating burnout is a continuous process that necessitates patience, self-awareness, and a dedication to self-care. Be nice to yourself as you go through this path, and don't be afraid to seek help when you need it.

It's crucial to remember that the well-being of the team is integral to long-term success. Burnout not only affects individual health but can also lead to a decline in creativity and productivity, ultimately impacting the brand's growth.

Invest in Professional Development Prioritize professional development opportunities for your marketing team to stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. Encourage skill-building workshops, conferences, and online courses to foster creativity and innovation.