Last week Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), sounded an alarm about a group we don’t always think about when we talk about burnout: leaders.
Did you know that 45% of middle managers report burnout, more than any other group in the workforce, according to research from Future Forum and Gallup? Managers are being asked to lead their teams through enormous change while navigating that same change themselves. They’re managing shifting priorities, heavier workloads, new technology and AI, budget pressures, and the everyday challenges of leading people. At the same time, they’re expected to remain calm, engaged, and ready to support everyone else. But who is supporting them?
My best boss ever, Frank always had our backs and treated us like his favorite siblings. One of the ways Frank role-modeled riding the wave was that he did not let the stress of the work overwhelm him. I can easily remember his infectious belly laugh, which could be heard throughout the office. He always found a way to add joy to our office, not just for us, but for himself, too.
That question has been very much on my mind as I prepare to keynote for the California County Information Services Directors Association (CCISDA) Fall Conference in Monterey, California. Appropriate to the locale, CCISDA has cleverly developed the theme, “Riding the Wave Without Losing Your Balance.”
County IT leaders are navigating a particularly powerful combination of pressures, including cybersecurity threats, AI implementation, county budgets, workload demands, rapidly changing priorities, and the responsibility of leading people through all of it. And their work matters far beyond the IT department. It’s about the people they serve and the important services they depend on.
That’s why Banish Burnout™: Surfing the Next Wave Without Losing Your Balance is not my typical Banish Burnout program. CCISDA wanted something different, so we built a hybrid program together. We’ll focus on how leaders can manage their own stress and reactions under pressure, while also exploring what they can do as managers to create an environment that helps their people stay engaged, productive, and well. And you can’t help your team ride the next wave if you’re struggling to stay on the board yourself.
The waves of change aren’t going to stop coming. We may not be able to control the ocean, but we can get much better at preparing ourselves, supporting our people, and responding when the next wave hits.
If your organization needs a unique, hybrid Banish Burnout program, get in touch at: Janice@JaniceLitvin.com