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Burnout is a pervasive problem affecting leaders and employees. it is independent of the industry and does not discriminate. While many organizations have strategies in place to address burnout, such as extended leaves, gym allowances, and suggested self-care regimens, it’s critical to understand that these are just makeshift solutions.
For most of us, burnout is rooted in unresolved trauma, which means it cannot be prevented by traditional rest and relaxation approaches. Although individuals have always been resistant to the deep healing work needed to address the past, the only way to truly release the underlying causes of burnout and its repetitive nature is to move through it.
By taking responsibility for our thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and tendencies to become distracted or numb, we can learn to let go of our subconscious attachments to the false narratives that may currently define us.
In my work with high performing leaders, I see (through) the masks they wear in business. There’s so much fear around who they might be, or what they might learn about themselves if their ego doesn’t constantly try to protect them. It’s exhausting to work so hard every day, while trying to get things done and lead others as best you can.
Related: Professional trauma is a real thing. Here’s how to recognize it and recover from it.
The bridge between burnout and unresolved trauma
Research has shown that the exhaustion, stress, trauma and moral wounds underlying burnout remain relentless for many people. Burnout can easily arise due to work stress, but it is also influenced by unresolved trauma from past psychological experiences.
Unresolved trauma can manifest in a variety of ways, including a sense of worthlessness, low self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries and standing up for oneself, and a lack of clarity in one’s outlook on life.
Related: Why Trauma Integration Will Give You a Competitive Leadership Edge
The limits of traditional approaches
Traditional approaches to burnout have serious limitations because it is not about solving problems, but case resolution. Although some measures may provide temporary relief, they do not address the root causes of burnout, which are often deeply rooted in unprocessed information from our past.
Without addressing the underlying issues, individuals can find themselves trapped in a cycle, repeatedly experiencing the same patterns of behavior that led to existential burnout in the first place.
The Importance of Healing Work
To effectively address burnout at its root, leaders should prioritize the inside work for themselves. This can include various forms of trauma-informed therapy, mindfulness practices, a myriad of healing and integrative modalities, herbal medicines, and other forms of self-exploration that allow individuals to connect with their inner self and gain a deeper understanding of their values, priorities and commitments.
Undoubtedly, organizations can be positively impacted by incorporating a leader’s trauma because when self-awareness is heightened, we can begin to see how we participate and progress in both unhealthy relationships and in unhealthy situations. entire systems.
Related: From Pain to Power – How to Understand the Link Between Childhood Trauma and Entrepreneurship
The Role of Organizational Leaders
By creating a supportive and compassionate work environment, leaders can foster a culture that encourages open communication, provides resources for healing, and fosters work-life integration. Additionally, leaders can invest in trauma-informed training and education for employees, ensuring they have the tools and support to navigate and evolve from their past trauma.
If bridging personal work and business seems strange or difficult to understand, consider the impact of not supporting people in this way. If employees are not feeling and living their potential, how can we expect them to work or lead to their greatest emotional capacity?
Obviously, separating personal development from professional development hasn’t worked well so far. When people feel they have to hide who they are, what they’ve been through, and how they might struggle, they will continue to function in deregulated bodies.
As leaders, if we can not only model but also deliver nervous system regulation to our teams, imagine how much differently our organizations could function. Imagine how healthy the bottom line could be if it was linked to the health of our people – mentally, emotionally, physically and even spiritually.
Lighting a new path
The world changes; old models of leadership are collapsing under the weight of organizational dysfunction, even in sectors considered innovative. True leaders have the ability to light a different path for all, starting with a point of individual choice. By prioritizing and modeling self-healing and providing resources to employees, leaders can help truly prevent and mitigate burnout in the workplace.
The question is, are you ready to take responsibility for your trauma by doing the work to become a more self-aware and effective leader? Or will your past continue to run the show?