In this episode of Make Work Not Suck, co-hosts Daniel Steere and Ryan Hodges tackle one of the most widespread issues in today’s workplace: burnout. Especially relevant in a post-COVID world, burnout has become a struggle for employees and leaders alike, affecting productivity, morale, and overall job satisfaction.

Ryan and Daniel share personal stories of burnout, exploring its causes and offering practical solutions for employees, managers, and executives. They discuss how unclear vision, outdated processes, and lack of efficiency can lead to burnout and provide actionable steps to prevent it. This episode delves into understanding burnout’s symptoms, addressing them at every organizational level, and creating a culture of clarity and support.

This episode covers:

• [00:00] The Story of an “FU” Slide: Highlighting Inefficient Processes

• [01:22] Welcome to the Episode: Burnout and Why It’s Timely

• [02:09] Different Types of Burnout: Juggling Work and Personal Life

• [02:28] Creating Burnout as a Leader: When Vision is Missing

• [03:26] A Real-World Example of Wasted Effort Due to Lack of Clarity

• [04:23] Identifying “Busy Work” vs. Accomplishing Real Goals

• [05:08] Activity vs. Accomplishment: Why Vision is Essential

• [06:17] Diagnosing Burnout in Large Organizations with Legacy Processes

• [09:16] The Problem with “Sacred Cows” and Overly Complex Processes

• [11:53] Outgrowing Processes: When Your Company’s Growth Creates Burnout

• [13:30] Advice for Employees Feeling Burnout: Finding Efficiency

• [14:32] Importance of Personal Recharging: Don’t Leave Vacation Days Unused

• [17:27] Why Managers Don’t Want Their Teams to Burn Out

• [18:29] Managers’ Role in Understanding and Changing Ineffective Processes

• [20:15] How Executives Can Identify and Address Burnout Early

• [21:33] The Silent Killer: Indifference as a Sign of Burnout

• [23:34] Addressing Burnout by Providing Breaks and Support

• [25:38] Taking Ownership as a Leader: Diagnosing the Gaps

• [27:03] Asking for Input: How Leaders Can Drive Positive Change

• [28:18] The Importance of a Clear Vision for Effective Processes

• [29:30] Change Fatigue: Burnout Caused by Constant Adjustments

Through real experiences and straightforward advice, Ryan and Daniel discuss how burnout can be prevented by leaders who take ownership, managers who encourage input, and employees who communicate constructively. If you’re struggling with burnout or want to prevent it in your team, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Key Takeaway: Burnout isn’t inevitable—it can be minimized with clear vision, supportive leadership, and proactive self-care. Learn how to reconnect to your work, reduce unnecessary “busy work,” and find meaningful ways to prevent burnout in your organization.

Tune in to discover practical strategies to make even the hardest workdays a little less exhausting.