Burnout is a persistent workplace issue that doesn’t seem to be going away, despite being talked about for decades. In a recent webinar from agile42, coaches Regina Martins and Pascal Papathemelis tackled this thorny problem head-on.

They shared personal stories illustrating how burnout can manifest in very different ways depending on the individual, team, and organizational context. For one person, it was a toxic manager-employee relationship that led to alienation, lack of motivation, and eventually quitting. For another, it was being promoted into a leadership role without proper support, training, or boundaries – leading to overwork and disillusionment.

While the stories were different, some common themes emerged around causes like chronic busyness, constant firefighting, and mismatched needs around factors like status, autonomy, and relatedness. The coaches highlighted the importance of self-awareness to spot warning signs in yourself, such as lack of motivation, journaling feelings, or mapping what provides a sense of fulfillment. Read more