Burnout is becoming so common place that there is now a new job description; Burnout Coach. Although workplace stress levels can be called out as a major contributor to Burnout, it's important to look at how we react to the stressors of our day to day lives. What is within our circle of control, how can we influence what happens around us and how can we change our responses to influence our environment?
Of late I've become critically aware of how people communicate...or perhaps I should say of how people are not communicating. Traditionally we think of communicating as sharing our ideas or thoughts with others. The Oxford dictionary tells me that communication is this:
1) the imparting or exchanging of information or news
2) means of sending or receiving information.
I'd like to challenge that definition and say that communication is an exchange of information, a means of sending and receiving information.
My corporate career has been predominately in Sales - and over the years I've been witness to many who simply want to get their message out, they want to develop a brand - they have a need for their message to be heard. Indeed, that methodology and those marketing techniques have a time and place. However, it has been recognized that if you don't want your products or services to be commoditized you are wise to shift your focus to relationship selling.
Relationship selling is just that - it's based on developing healthy and trusting relationships.
Let's look around ourselves for examples of good, healthy and functional relationships. Both personal and professional, your spouse, your family members, co-workers...your boss. When I look at my involvement in successful relationships there is an element of trust. How is this trust developed? Well I know I begin to trust someone when I feel that they truly care about me. That they truly have my best interests in mind. How have they earned that trust? By understanding what matters to me, what inspires me, what my goals and dreams are...what my highest vision for my life or career looks like. That is learned through effective communication.
Thus my comment at the beginning, communication is an exchange of information, a means of sending and receiving information. To know more about the people around me I must be present and receive the information they are sharing with me. It needs to be absorbed and understood. When I understand, truly understand who they are then we are well on our way to building a foundation for a strong and healthy relationship.
So how is effective communication relevant to Burnout? As we succumb to the pressures of an ever increasing pace of getting more things done we tend to lose our focus on communication. We focus on being better, faster - getting more done in an increasingly smaller amount of time. We lose focus on the things and people around us. We find ourselves going at such a high rate of speed that we lose sight of the details, we forget the why...our rate of error increases and many of the important details "fall off the radar." When you lose sight of the details, when you forget the why you've ultimately lost your sense of communication. Not only with those around you but with yourself.
What does your communication style look like? Have you been able to use the 80/20 rule and listen, really listen, to those around you for 80% of the time? Are you able to listen to yourself - what is your body telling you? Are you close to Burnout?
Conscious and communication is just that - it takes conscious effort, it requires focus and attention. When you develop a pattern of open communication with yourself and those around you it lessens the possibility of the impacts associated with Burnout.
What is within your circle of control that you can do to reduce Burnout for you, your family, co-workers - anyone who may be impacted by how effectively you communicate?
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