Winning the Fight Against Burnout  

By Lauren Soderstrom, PHR, Senior Organizational Development Partner 
Published April 30, 2024

The prevalence of employee burnout has become a growing concern among leaders and HR professionals, and for good reason. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout has been recognized as an "occupational phenomenon," characterized by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional efficacy. 

According to new research by the Grossman Group in partnership with the Harris Poll, 76% of employees and 63% of managers report feeling burnt out or ambivalent in their role. Furthermore, managers seem unaware of just how much their employees are struggling. While just 24% of employees report that they are thriving in their roles, managers believe that 89% of their employees are thriving. 

Research by Gallup further shows that what individuals often do to combat burnout is not always effective for every employee. One solution that is almost universally effective is creating a “culture of well-being,” which includes individualized approaches to combating burnout. One way to do this is to utilize CliftonStrengths®, a strengths-based approach developed by Gallup that focuses on identifying and developing individuals' unique talents and strengths.

CliftonStrengths®, grounded in decades of research, offers a framework for understanding employees' innate abilities and aligning them with their roles and responsibilities within the organization. By empowering individuals to leverage their strengths effectively, CliftonStrengths® not only enhances job satisfaction and engagement but also serves as a powerful antidote to burnout.

A strengths-based approach works on several levels. First, when an employee uses their strengths when performing job responsibilities, they report feeling in the “flow” state. When in this zone, their tasks can provide a boost of energy, greater satisfaction, and improved quality of work. Conversely, when operating in their areas of weakness, individuals report feeling drained and derive less satisfaction from their work. 

Gallup confirms these results in their research. Employees who use their strengths daily are six times more likely to be engaged at work and three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life compared to those who are not.

In addition to using our strengths to prevent burnout, strengths can also help employees get out of the burnout state. Gallup reports that the effectiveness of the methods that employees use to help combat burnout are often dependent on their strengths themselves. For example, when presented with a variety of common ways to deal with burnout, those high in relationship building themes found the highest amount of success in reflecting on how their work helps others and engaging with friends (71%). Individuals with influencing themes reported finding the most success with thinking about how their work affects future goals (80%). Individuals with strategic thinking themes reported the most success with stopping and thinking through the situation (80%). 

Lastly, a workplace that integrates strengths into its culture is positioning itself as an employer of choice. By providing employees with opportunities to further develop and apply their strengths in their roles, organizations can foster a culture of continuous growth and high engagement. 

In the fight against burnout, CliftonStrengths® can be one tool to empower individuals to thrive in their roles, cultivate a positive work environment, and ultimately, safeguard against the pervasive threat of burnout. 

On May 16, HR Source is offering Harness Your Strengths. This hour-long webinar includes a Strengthsfinder® assessment and will introduce participants to some methods to help achieve their highest potential and improve teamwork. 

Is burnout a challenge you and your employees are struggling with? Have you done anything to address burnout in your organization? Share your ideas in our All Members Community on HR Exchange.