Breaking the Burnout for Tech Leaders

Morning!!

I’m writing this as I sit outside of our rented house in Kissimmee, wrapping up a week of Disney, spending some quality time with my kiddos, and taking in some Florida sun. As I sit here though, I can’t help but to think about the last time we were here about 1.5 years ago. Let’s just say, I was in a WAY different mental headspace.

Let me take you back…

I was flat out burned out and was literally dying for down time. I had spent most of my career grinding for… You know what, I don’t really know what for… For stature? For validation? For respect? Because that's what I thought I was supposed to do? But the thing is, I didn’t even realize I was burnt out until it was FAR too late.

I work with a lot of high achieving tech leaders that do this too though, and I'm assuming at some point you can relate, right? Put projects, deliverables, targets on our shoulders to carry across the finish line. We don’t ask for help because, well, we’re capable. We can do it. 'If I don’t, who else will?' 'It’ll just be easier/faster if I just do it myself'… Most of the time these pressures are self-inflicted. Mine was, and I talk to a lot of people who are doing the same.

Now let me say this, there are times in our careers that yes, things are going to feel heavier, things are going to require more from us. But not all of the time. Not for months or years on end with no clear vision on when or who things will simmer down. When there’s no “end point” that’s a problem.

So how to know you’re starting to burn out…

1. You can’t divide work and life. You can’t stop talking or thinking about work… it consumes you. And people around you get annoyed.
2. Your passion has dimmed. Remember how excited you were about your projects and innovations when you first started? If that excitement has turned into dread or apathy, it's a sign. Burnout tends to suck the joy out of things we used to love, making even the most passionate professionals question their paths.
3. Physical and emotional exhaustion. This goes beyond needing an extra cup of coffee to kickstart your day. It's about feeling drained before the day even begins, battling insomnia, or experiencing a constant state of anxiety and irritability. When your body and mind are screaming for a break, it's critical to listen.

Here are some things you can do…

1. Delegate. When I work with people who are on the end of burn out, I typically see they are being terrible delegators. They are either holding things too tight because they are too attached OR they feel like they don’t have the time to teach someone else to do it because they’re already spread too thin and would be faster to do things themselves… In our high achieving leadership roles, we gotta identify areas to delegate and “teach a man to fish”.
2. Prioritize. I knowwww… 'But it’s all gotta get done.' But does it really? Does it really right this very second? Learning how to look at everything you have going on from a high level perspective and rank them will do wonders.
3. Set Boundaries. This is easier said than done, but it's essential. Learn to say no to additional responsibilities if you're already overwhelmed. This isn't about shirking responsibilities but about protecting your mental and physical health. Remember, it's impossible to pour from an empty cup.
4. Seek Support. Whether it's talking to a mentor, finding a therapist, or just venting to friends or family, getting your thoughts and feelings out there can be incredibly cathartic. Sometimes, just the act of articulating what you're going through can help you start to find solutions.

So, yeah. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never been there. And truth be told, getting there pushed me to jump into something I’d probably never have had the guts to do if I hadn’t been burnt out, and I’m grateful for it. But, it sucks when you’re in it, especially when you can’t see a way out.

To my fellow tech leaders navigating the challenging waters of our industry, remember this: overcoming burnout isn’t solely about the quest for the next big opportunity. It's about introspection and taking actionable steps towards making our current roles more fulfilling and sustainable. This journey involves recognizing the signs of burnout early on and implementing strategies such as delegating effectively, prioritizing tasks, setting healthy boundaries, and seeking support when needed.

In doing so, we not only enhance our own well-being but also set a powerful example for our teams. It shows that success doesn't have to come at the cost of our health and happiness. By finding balance and fulfillment in our current positions, we can reignite our passion for technology and leadership, driving innovation and inspiring those around us to do the same.

In the end, our greatest triumph as tech leaders isn’t measured by the sheer scale of our achievements, but by our ability to foster a culture of resilience, well-being, and fulfillment within the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Rooting for you always,

Ashley

PS. If any of this resonates, take a step back and pause. A career transition actually might not be the answer and might even be preventable. And if you ever want to talk, of course I'm here. Here's a link to my calendar to schedule a chat.

LATEST RESOURCES - In case you missed them...

LinkedIn Live Replay - Your Next And Final Career Move

Watch and explore the typical challenges I see people facing with their next and final career move and some tips and tricks on how to face them. HERE

Women In Mobility 2024 EVENT HOSTED BY KPIT

Check out this amazing event hosted by KPIT about Women in Mobility. I was honored to share the stage alongside some amazing women leaders from Google, Cummins, Honda, GM, & KPIT. Check out the replay HERE

LATEST POLL RESULTS:

• Outsourcing Engineering Services: It was a close one and honestly I'm a bit surprised by these results. More to come on that though. Essential for Efficiency- 44%, Detrimental to Quality - 49%, leaving Other - 7%. Many of the "other" comments referred to a good mix of both.

• Adoption of Tesla's Charging Standard by Other Automakers: Driven by market demand, technological superiority, or regulatory influence? Market Demand - 40%, Technological Superiority - 60%, Regulatory Influence - 0%.
• I was a bit quieter this week. Here is why :)

INDUSTRY NEWS & COMPANIES ON MY RADAR:

In an ever changing, evolving industry it's hard to keep up with what's new.  Here's what's on my radar.

• Lots going on with Rivian the last 2 weeks including the reveal of R2 and of their new R3. Click here to learn more.
• This event on 3/12 was super interesting about "How Sustainable Mobility is Transforming the Last-Mile of Delivery' Click here to listen. I hadn't heard of Cartken before so that was a new last mile company on my radar now :)
• EV Charging Summit & Expo is coming up next week! 120 Speakers, 65 Sessions, 200 Exhibitors, 5,000+ Attendees. Click here to secure your pass for the summit happening this March 20-22, 2024, in Las Vegas.

• Kia has introduced a promotional offer for the 2024 EV9, providing a $5,000 reduction, a $1,000 loyalty incentive, and the possibility of extra discounts from dealers, enabling customers to save as much as $7,000 off the suggested retail price. Additionally, the company has lowered leasing costs.
• Redwood Materials Will be growing especially with it's latest expansions breaking ground!
• Looking at Ascend Elements Elements who recently got funding 3 weeks ago. Also Form Energy looks to be continue on their growth trajectory with 162 jobs currently open.

• Check out this post by Steve Taylor highlighting some jobs in charging infrastructure! HERE

JOB SEEKING TIPS & TRICKS

LinkedIn Profile Tip:

Transform your headline into a value proposition rather than simply listing your job title and employer. Use this prime real estate to succinctly describe how you solve problems or add value to an organization. For example, instead of "Project Manager at Company XYZ," try "Strategic Project Manager: Driving Efficiency and Innovation in Tech Solutions." This approach helps you stand out by immediately communicating your unique strengths and the impact you can make, making your profile more compelling to potential employers and connections.

ChatGPT Prompt of the week:

Okay, so not much a prompt, but an AI tip to enhance communication... There are quite a few softwares like Crystal Knows and Humantics AI that help analyze people's personalities. These are oftentimes are used in sales, but can be great in analyzing interviewers before talking with them. My advice is you can especially use these tools to enhance communication. Do they prefer direct, short, concise answers or do they want to have the story behind how you got there? Do they want to chit chat and form a relationship at the beginning of the conversation or are they more of let's jump in people? A little thing that can give you that little edge :)

WHAT'S BREWING AT CHARGEDUP

People are always asking me what's new or what's in the works so figured I'd share with y'all (I'm not from the south but "y'all" just felt right).

We kicked off the ChargedUp Community beta group this week and have received awesome feedback so far! This is an exclusive group for high-achieving leaders in the tech industry—from those on the cusp of their next big opportunity to seasoned leaders eager to share their wisdom. Here, it's not just about what you know; it's about who you stand shoulder to shoulder with.

It's full of resources including on demand and live trainings, challenges, fireside chats along with the opportunity to network and connect with like-minded individuals in the sustainable transportation & future mobility fields!!! This paid community is application / invite only, so if you'd like to learn more shoot me a message!

Propel and Build Program - This program crafted is for people who have a job but are looking to make a transition or uplevel.  More info HERE

Executive BiWeekly Coaching - Interesting enough a lot of the people I'm coaching that the moment are VP & C-Suite level individuals who aren't necessarily looking for a new job, but do want their job to be more fulfilling - be it learning how to delegate and prioritize or advocating for themselves. Schedule a time to chat if you'd like to learn more about this!

Curious about ChargedUp and what we do?? Check out our website: www.chargedupcareers.com

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Remember, if you're looking to uplevel your career to be more fulfilling, I'm here and would love to help! Here's my calendly once again :)