Nowadays there is a lot of talk about burnout syndrome that affects thousands of people. This is an occupational phenomenon that can have consequences for mental and physical health. According to the WHO, 12 billion days of work are lost worldwide every year due to depression and anxietystill cost more than US$1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
Leaders are people who have a lot of responsibility behind them, they are required to always be strong, serene, with a smile and available. Showing weaknesses is not an option. Added to this is the current pace of life, obligations, economic uncertainty and/or job instability.
In Argentina, and according to the latest Bumeran survey, 91% of working people say “they are burned out”. Among the negative experiences they mention are: stress (77%), abnormal exhaustion due to an excessive workload (41%), not finding time for oneself (39%), not being able to disconnect from work (37%), feeling more pressure than before (37%).
While in Spainwhere I currently live a large part of the year, a similar situation arises. 88.3% of SME managers admit to having felt some mental health problem due to their workaccording to the D&O Whitepaper report “The real cost of starting your own company.” Among the most common symptoms mentioned are: stress (81.3%), insomnia (69%), anxiety (68.6%), depression (37.8%), low self-esteem and insecurity (32.4%), and difficulty concentrating (29.7%).
Not for nothing The WHO warned that workplaces are an example of an environment where measures are needed to transform the mental health situation. Consequently, it is not surprising that more cases of addictions, failures, fears and anxiety are beginning to be observed, taboo topics for many companies.
1.Addictions and a double life. Unfortunately it is possible to lead a double life, in fact many executives have been doing so for quite some time. But that does not mean that the environment does not notice it. A climate is created around it that is felt, perceived and that totally affects the work environment.
If a person adopts a double life, what they are doing is creating a character. Over time, maintaining that persona causes the true self to be neglected and in the end, wear and tear ends up uncovering the pot. The price is incredible emotional exhaustion, stress, anxiety and conflict. Along the way there are warning signs such as lack of patience, bad mood, disinterest, loss of values, poor individual performance, inability to resolve conflicts and problems exercising leadership.
In these situations, it is important to be critical of yourself and seek help. Don’t wait to overdo it.
2.Failures, a mistake can be costly. Executives live under constant pressure, work and personal. Companies place a lot of demands on leaders. The pace that is imposed is dizzying and a mistake can be costly. Today little space is dedicated to working with people on emotions and human value. There is no one responsible for evaluating the team to know how they are doing and what personal situations may be affecting the company’s productivity. It is key to understand that saturation exists in all work environments. Everyone can and has to be a leader in their private life and in their workplace, there is no need to lock oneself into leadership by position. We all have to be our own leader. And the best leader will also be the one who develops it and generates more leaders through empathy.
3. Fears, the vicious cycle of harmful thoughts. It is proven that the majority of people live with fears, which always begin in their private lives and transfer to work. Fears are imaginary movies that one creates for not knowing how to manage emotions and being influenced by those of others, generating a vicious circle of harmful thoughts. They also occur due to lack of self-esteem. Fear, anger, guilt and ego are common feelings among executives. Fear is generated by the pressure they receive and the lack of knowing how to control it. Anger appears in the face of frustration. Guilt is what ends up doing even more damage for not meeting the planned objectives and destabilizes the ego. Fear can be addressed. You have to dedicate yourself to finding the best version of yourself, achieving a higher quality of life, developing a plan of healthy habits, understanding that physical and mental care are daily tasks that, when exercised, provide a great quality of personal and work life. Meditation, conscious breathing and having a mentor to help you find that best version of yourself is important.
4. Anxiety, disconnection with oneself and others. For the UN, anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the world and affected 301 million people. The impact of anxiety is immediate and very decisive since it automatically creates a disconnection in oneself and in the work team. A negative environment usually forms, the lack of camaraderie is fueled, apathy is contagious and can lead to toxic relationships. It is worth quoting in this context the phrase of a Greek philosopher who said that the problem is not what happens to us but what we think about what happens. Personal and work problems are inevitable but our way of dealing with them is avoidable.
Losses from work due to mental illness are increasing every day. Knowing how to recognize and deal with emotions is essential when making decisions, as well as incorporating a plan of healthy habits into your routine and having a mentor for a certain period of time to evaluate which emotions dominate and find a balance. If not addressed, over time they end up negatively impacting the person and the group. The company that understands the importance of promoting a space for emotional intelligence in its work environment will be a great beneficiary.
*Luciano Calomeni is an expert in leadership and personal development. Author of the book “A Pact to Live”.
by Luciano Calomeni
