Burnout & Introverts

Working as an HR professional, I'm sadly in the first row seat to see colleagues struggling with burnout at the workplace. According to NL Times, around 20% of the workforce in the Netherlands had suffered from burn out or emotional exhaustion in 2022. That is an excessive number and puts many of us at risk of wrestling with complaints due to high workloads and unfavorable work environments.

What is a burnout?

According to Mayo Clinic burnout is increased and acute stress linked to our jobs where we experience emotional and physical exhaustion. Usual symptoms are fatigue, lack of motivation, irritability, and declining job performance. Risk factors of burn out include excessive workload, unclear expectations, and poor work-life balance.

While burnout can occur regardless of personality or characteristics, introverts may be more prone to experiencing excessive work stress due some of their unique traits and approach. Let's explore what these may be.

Overstimulation

Most of the workplaces are busy in many ways: disruptions, teamwork, multitasking, lots of deliverables, noise. Operating in such an environment can be exhausting for an introvert. Having to switch between tasks, working with people and busy meetings can easily overstimulate an introverted individual.

Think of your energy as a battery. Excessive usage drains it faster and if there's not enough time for recharging, eventually you run out of power.

Pressure to conform to extroverted norms

On top of the overstimulating environment, a typical workplace is extrovert-friendly and expects extroverted traits: socializing, speaking up and personal branding (bragging even), being in the spotlight. If we want to make a good impression and progress in our careers, we have to show these traits. For an introvert, these usually don't come naturally. Putting up a mask every day to conform these extroverted norms will drain our batteries. It's like having a background app running that takes a big part of your capacity and energy.

Setting boundaries

Introverts have a tendency to be very diligent and hard-working, who don't want to break a promise by delivering past deadline. Our efforts to juggle the work both quality and quantity may lead to blurred lines and unclear boundaries. Ultimately, you may find yourself non-stop working or thinking about work. Having no space to let go of the work, staying late, or even sacrificing your weekends to finish an assignment will have a toll on you.

Strive for perfection

With the attention to detail, perseverance and depth, Introverts often strive for perfection. They want to make sure to do a good job. A great job even. They want to go above and beyond and try to complete things flawless. Putting such high expectations on ourselves, striving for nothing but perfect can easily get us overboard. It can become extremely stressful and very discouraging to deliver as such when we face constraints (time, support, resources, lack of clarity).

Now that we looked at the factors that may lead an Introvert to a burnout, let's also look at the resources naturally available to an Introvert to manage stress and prevent burnout.

Deep listening

Often we link deep listening skills to others. But deep listening is more than just the ability to understand and empathize with another human beings. We are deeply listening when we realize that we are stretching ourselves too far and we acknowledge our needs of recharging.

Listen to your body and take the time to deal with the stress built up inside of you, decompress and allow yourself to slow down.

Structure and routines

We are good in concentrating, and can achieve great results in our own bubble. Work with your team, manager, project group to set up structures that allow you to work undisturbed and uninterrupted. Structure may mean that you have a fixed weekly workflow or meeting schedule, that allows time for recharging and time to dive into your work.

Small routines like a lunch walk can help to distance yourself from the social environment and get some alone time. I have shared earlier my morning routine in the office, you can find it here.

Shift the norm

When you express your need for a different tempo, or for the time to focus, it helps your colleagues to understand your preferences. Breaking the extrovert habit will not happen overnight, but the more you can get affirmation for your needs and unique personality, the more you impact the culture of your team and create acknowledgment for the introverts in the office.

Do you have the idea that your level of work stress increased lately? Feel free to reach out to me for a free introductory call to talk about it.