Is Your Job Causing Burn Out?
Recognizing the early warning signs of burn out are often missed until it is too late. It begins with a gut sense of knowing something isn't right. Although stress and anxiety can be a (small) factor in most professions, it shouldn't be a daily part of your work life. If it is, then it is time to stop and ask yourself the following questions.
1) Do you have a well defined job description?
A well defined job description is a written statement which describes job functions, duties, scope and expectations. A well defined job description prevents the potential for Job Creep; increasing work loads that are above and beyond normal job requirements. If you are feeling your job responsibilities resembles an a la carte menu, start keeping a time report/log of your daily activities. Compare your log with the written job description your employer provided you at the time of hire. If you don't have this in writing, then take the initiative and write what you believe your duties are. This information will be needed when you meet with your manager to discuss, verify and solidify job role and expectations.
2) Do you feel exhausted at the end of the day?
Feeling exhausted at the end of the day, could be a sign that you are not working within your strength zone. Everyone has behavioral strengths and weaknesses. While some people thrive working in a consistent, routine environment, others may find it boring, making it difficult to feel motivated. Take a DISC Assessment to determine your strengths and weaknesses, to see if you are working in your strength zone. People who work in their weakness zones, tend to have a lot of absences, late arrivals to their jobs, consistently making mistakes or have low performance issues. If you don't like your job, or it doesn't excite you, chances are, it is showing itself through your performance.
3) Can't get your work done?
Not being able to get your work done could be a sign of Job Creep, or it could be an indication you lack necessary time management skills. If you have difficulty staying on task, productivity and performance will suffer. It is important to meet with your manager to review job roles and responsibilities, as well as working to establish priorities to manage time effectively. The best way to manage time is to record your time spent on projects using a time sheet. If you discover your time is being interrupted, record that information as well as to who, what, when and why. Meet with your manager to discuss priorities and how to develop and implement time management skills.
4) Do you over-promise and under-deliver?
Over promising may make you feel like superman or superwoman, but if you can't deliver what you have promised, your employer may lose trust in your abilities. Trust is something that takes forever to regain, so it's important to not lose it! It is actually better to under promise and over deliver. Sounds counter-intuitive, doesn't it? This doesn't mean you should purposely refrain from accepting new projects or responsibilities; however, it does suggest you take the necessary time to analyze opportunities with realistic and balanced performance expectations.
First and foremost, it is important to do an honest assessment of yourself. This will provide you with clarity on what motivates you, how and why you react the way you do, and helps to navigate a plan of action to what will make you happier and more fulfilled in your role at work or possibly a new career path; all based upon your personality behaviors.
Don't let yourself reach the level of Burn Out before you decide to do something about it. Now is the time to take control of what you want to do. If you are ready, we can help.
Contact Cathy for additional information regarding DISC Assessments and Team Rose Assessments at MY Business Advisor, LLC, info@mybasolutions.com.