How to Deal With a Burned Out Boss

 

Know how many Google search results there are for the phrase “manage burnout?” Over 39 million! It seems the struggle is still so real for so many. Luckily, there's no shortage of tips on how to manage your own burnout. 

 

But what if yours is feeling managed…and now it seems your boss may be the one who’s struggling? Like second-hand smoke, your boss’s burnout may still present risks to your own sense of wellbeing.

 

If you suspect your boss may be suffering from burnout (and you, in turn, are feeling the pain) then let’s talk about what you can do to turn things around—for both of you.

What boss burnout might look like

My friend Jay needed some advice last month. His team has developed a new product that they’ll be bringing to market shortly. Jay has cleared out a bunch of other priorities to ensure his team has all the time and space they need to make this product a win.

 

Things were going well until Jay’s boss Clara took a keen interest in the product. She’s been popping into meetings, micromanaging, showing uncontrolled anger when she doesn’t like an idea, and throwing to-dos onto people’s plates that aren’t aligned with the priorities Jay has set. “This behavior is so unlike the Clara I’ve known for nearly a decade! I have no idea what’s going on with her,” he shared.

 

I asked whether it was possible Clara had too much on her plate, and he laughed. “She can’t even find the plate under everything that’s on it,” he said.

 

I explained to Jay that what he (and his team) may be experiencing is Clara’s stress response—the side of us that can be triggered when faced with burnout.

 

“It’s time for you to have a chat with her,” I told him.

 

This can feel like an uncomfortable conversation to have. So we talked through some best practices sure to set him up for success.

How to address your boss’s burnout

Lead with empathy

If your boss is showing up in ways that are stressing you out, start by imagining what they must be carrying. Consider all their priorities, their stakeholders, their own need to impress and to get it all done. 

 

When I pressed Jay to consider Clara’s experience, I watched his face begin to soften. He was able to step—for a moment—out of his frustration to recognize that she’s working nearly non-stop, barely taking breaks, and sitting under loads of pressure. 

 

And by imagining all the responsibilities she’s shouldering, he was able to understand why her stress response may be emerging. This is one of the...

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