Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2023 - 59

CAREER
DEVELOPMENT
JULIE WINKLE
GIULIONI
TURNING DOWN THE HEAT ON BURNOUT
Enjoying a long and satisfying career
requires that we bring the best of who we
are and what we can do to our work day-in
and day-out. Unfortunately, for many, this
is becoming increasingly challenging due
to growing levels of stress and burnout.
What many believed would be a postCOVID-19
blip has turned into a persistent
and pervasive workplace condition
that's taking a toll on individuals and
organizations alike.
CONNECTION IS
LINKED TO HAPPINESS
AND LONGEVITY.
I recently spoke at a conference of
emergency professionals - the people
we count on to maintain public health and
safety. These people are exceptionally
well-trained and prepared to handle
the stress associated with navigating
high-stakes situations. When asked who
was feeling burned out, very few hands
remained in attendees' laps. I immediately
thought, " If these folks feel like this, the
rest of us don't stand a chance! "
During informal conversations with
some of the people who raised their
hands, I heard a common refrain: " The
job is what it is and it's not going to
change. " And isn't that the case for all
of us? Most work is likely comprised of
a variety of tasks that need to happen
for the organization to meet customer,
market and stakeholder needs. As a
result, our ability to shift or mold any
given job to reduce the emotional toll it
takes is limited.
While your job may not require the
life-and-death decision-making of
the emergency workers I spoke with,
you likely endure considerable and
compounding stress and tension of
your own. But, if the job " is what it is "
and likely can't morph much to mitigate
burnout, what can change?
Much good and well-meaning advice
is
directed toward the individual -
the very person who may lack the
emotional resources in the moment
to be able to engage in breathing,
meditation, journaling or mindfulness
recommendations. Talent management
professionals and leaders are better
equipped to facilitate the positive,
energizing and inspiring feelings
required to turn down the heat a bit and
balance the exhaustion and depletion
of burnout.
SUPPORTING SKILLFULNESS
The job might not change, but an
individual's capacity to perform the
job with greater ease can. And that's
a talent management professional's
superpower: Identifying and addressing
skills gaps. Offering tools and resources
to lessen the cognitive load and effort
required to deliver results. And making
sure that obstacles to success are
removed, as ongoing obstructions can
be among the most debilitating and
stressful situations employees endure.
PROMOTING PURPOSE
Feelings of fulfillment, meaning and
deep satisfaction can be inspired in
many ways. For instance, passing
Julie Winkle Giulioni is the author of the
bestselling books, " Promotions Are SO
Yesterday " and " Help Them Grow or
Watch Them Go. " Email Julie.
along a stakeholder's compliment
or connecting the dots between an
employee's output and customer
outcomes. One of the emergency
professionals shared how much she
appreciated it when others in the
system shared the outcomes of an
incident she supported. Even if the
outcome wasn't what anyone had
hoped for, it reminded her of the
difference that she and the team could
make together.
CULTIVATING CONNECTION
Relationships can play a significant role
in helping us rebound from work stress.
In fact, longitudinal research conducted
by Harvard finds that connection is
linked to happiness and longevity. This
creates a compelling case for insisting
upon inclusion, building a sense of
belonging and enabling authentic and
meaningful relationships between
leaders and employees and among all
team members.
Burnout is no passing trend. The
emotional and physical labor associated
with doing the jobs required of today's
dynamic, fast-paced, ever-changing
workplace will likely only escalate,
introducing new levels of stress. Since
in many cases the job " is what it is, " we
must envision what we can do to support
employees and ourselves to turn down
the heat on burnout. That's the only way
to ensure that our careers shine bright for
some time to come.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - SPRING 2023 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
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https://trainingindustry.com/magazine/spring-2022/the-burnout-revolution/ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-belonging-across-your-organization/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-belonging-across-your-organization/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/skills-gap-or-growth-gap-6-ways-to-identify-skills-gaps-on-your-team/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/skills-gap-or-growth-gap-6-ways-to-identify-skills-gaps-on-your-team/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-belonging-across-your-organization/ https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-belonging-across-your-organization/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine

Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2023

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