How to spot red flags for burnout in yourself and coworkers

The shine has worn off the new year and, given the long slog of winter that still lies ahead, you might be feeling less excited about work. There’s a good chance that what you’re feeling is more than just the winter blahs. According to a study last year, an alarming 82% of workers feel at risk for burnout. If you think you, your coworkers, or even your boss might be part of that group, here are the red flags to look out for—and what you can do about it. 

Red flags for personal burnout

You likely know many of the obvious signs of burnout, such as feeling exhausted and disengaged at work. But there are plenty of other less obvious red flags that you should pay attention to, in both your own feelings and attitude and in your work environment.

One is if you regularly feel cynical or negative about your job. Other signs of burnout are more about what experts call “workplace misalignments,” where your needs or capacity don’t match your work demands. These thing include: not having the autonomy to do your job in the way that you like to; not feeling fairly compensated; or feeling your values are incompatible with your company’s values. 

What to do: If you feel overloaded at work, the most important and obvious (but sometimes the hardest) thing to do is to say no to more work. There are a few ways to do this successfully. One is to make a list of all of your responsibilities along with the approximate time each takes. It’s always best to go to your boss with solutions and suggestions, rather than just problems. Once you’ve made your list, look for places where things can be cut to make space for what’s being asked of you. 

Red flags for coworker burnout

If the people around you treat everything like it’s an emergency (and you don’t work in an actual emergency room), it could be a sign that they are burned out, worried about the state of their jobs, or don’t feel they have a strong sense of purpose and mission. As Fast Company contributor Art Markman points out, “Living life in emergency mode is exhausting. It is hard to make progress on any long-term plans at work when you are forced to grapple with some critical issue that has gone wrong.” 

What to do: Markman explains that if your workplace feels this way, you and your coworkers may be prioritizing the wrong things. People may be working on tasks that are easy to do and leaving the difficult things until later and then hurrying at the last minute. He advises prioritizing making progress on tasks before the deadline looms too large.

Red flags for burnout in your boss

Leaders set the tone for the whole team. “When a boss experiences burnout,” Fast Company contributor Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic explains, “it often leads to shifts in leadership effectiveness, communication, and decision-making. A burned-out boss may unintentionally affect the mood and morale of the team. Detecting burnout early helps address the issue before it negatively affects the entire team’s energy, motivation, and enthusiasm.”

One red flag that your boss may be burning out: If they stop talking about the “why” behind projects. Chamorro-Premuzic notes that this is a critical marker of vision. Or maybe they resist discussions about long-term growth—another sign that they are checked out.

What to do: Chamorro-Premuzic says you can support your boss by facilitating brainstorming sessions where you and your team explore new ideas. “Offer gentle encouragement for high-level discussions, focusing on the bigger picture rather than immediate outputs,” he advises. “Even brief engagement with creative conversations can lift them out of the burnout rut.”

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