Recognising Burnout – Signs and Symptoms in Your People

Part 2: Recognising Burnout – Signs and Symptoms in Your People

 10 Part Blog Series: Understanding & Combating Burnout in the Workplace

Burnout can be sneaky. 

It doesn’t always announce itself with a loud crash or a big warning sign. It often starts with small, subtle shifts—before it spirals into something that cannot be ignored. 

As HR professionals, recognising Burnout early is crucial.

When you understand the signs and symptoms, you can act quickly to prevent further harm. But, the first step is knowing what to look for. The earlier Burnout is spotted, the sooner you can help prevent its escalation.

Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

Burnout doesn’t look the same for everyone. While some may show clear signs, others may mask their exhaustion or disengagement. Here are a few common symptoms to watch for:

• Emotional Symptoms: Cynicism, irritability, lack of enthusiasm, feeling disconnected from work or colleagues.
• Physical Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, trouble sleeping, headaches, frequent illness.
• Behavioural Symptoms: Reduced productivity, procrastination, withdrawing from colleagues, neglecting responsibilities, increased absenteeism.
• Cognitive Symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, feeling like you’re "on autopilot."

Burnout isn’t always visible in the way a person behaves. 

Sometimes, it manifests in their performance—once top performers now struggling to meet expectations. 

And, by the time people are showing clear signs, the damage has often been done. But Burnout doesn’t just appear out of nowhere; it builds over time, slowly chipping away at their energy, enthusiasm, and sense of self.

The Burnout Equation – Toxicity - Sense of Self = Burnout

Here’s where the science and psychology of Burnout come into play. 

My Burnout Equation—Toxicity - Sense of Self = Burnout—helps you understand why people can reach Burnout and why the signs are not always clear.

• Toxicity refers to the factors at work (and life) that drain energy: excessive workload, a toxic culture, poor leadership, unclear expectations, lack of support, or bullying.
• Sense of Self is the individual’s resilience, purpose, and ability to set boundaries (non-negotiables). When their sense of self is strong, people can weather the storms that come their way. But, when this is eroded by toxic work conditions, Burnout is inevitable.

The equation reminds us that Burnout doesn’t happen simply because someone is working hard or because of stress. 

It happens when they’re working in conditions that drain them, without enough internal resources (like a strong sense of self) to cope.

Why HR Needs to Act Quickly

As HR professionals, you cannot afford to miss the signs of Burnout (in yourself or your people). 

If you want to avoid the negative consequences of Burnout—high turnover, disengagement, and even legal action—you need to be proactive in identifying and addressing the issue before it becomes a crisis.

But, it’s not just about spotting Burnout in others—it’s about recognising the same symptoms in YOU. 

If you’re not careful, you can easily fall into the trap of Burnout too. 

HR professionals, perhaps more than anyone, need to be aware of their own wellbeing, as you’re often the ones taking on the emotional labour of supporting others.

Taking Action: Train with Me in the Burnout Academy

Spotting Burnout early is just the first step. 

To truly make a difference, you need to be able to diagnose the root causes, implement strategies to support recovery, and build a workplace culture that prevents Burnout from taking hold in the first place. 

That’s where the Burnout Academy comes in.

In the Burnout Academy, you’ll learn how to recognise the signs of Burnout, both in yourself and others, and you’ll walk away with practical, proven strategies for supporting your people and yourself. 

It’s time to stop burnout in its tracks—join me, and let’s do this work together.

Kelly

Buy F*ck Burnout: Why We Need To Call BS On Workplace Wellbeing To Finally Banish Burnout here
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