Tech Leader Pro

Burnout (TLP 2024w51)

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The warning signs are there, I am burned out.

Notes:

  • It has been a few weeks now since my last podcast, and my topic today will explain why.
  • Recently I have been feeling tired, grumpy, and sick with a cold.
  • I have also been sleeping long hours, even falling asleep on the sofa after work.
  • In the morning, I open my work cellphone with sense of dread for what new escalations I will have to face today.
  • Basically I am burned out.
  • My work-related stress is at an all-time high, in the past few weeks I have had to deal with the following:
    • Getting a new manager (my fourth in 2 years).
    • Hiring two more senior people into my team and on-boarding them.
    • Conducting many annual performance reviews, some of which were difficult.
    • Launching two new products into production.
    • Multiple production issues across several products.
    • Closing an external audit of one major product.
    • Dealing with a new peer who seems quite hostile.
    • Reorganizing my teams to get them ready for expansion next year.
    • Getting budgets approved for that expansion.
    • Getting vendor contracts signed off for 2025.
    • Etc etc etc...
    • Stop the train, I want to get off!
    • Leadership is difficult, and you rarely (if ever) get thanked for any of it.
    • You team, you peers, your manager, and your stakeholders are quick to point out issues, but rarely offer praise for successes.
    • Frankly speaking, at this stage I am doing it for the money to support my family, and would happily quit and do a start-up full-time if I could secure the funding.
    • In the interim, I have taken a few weeks off to recharge my batteries, when I will play games, read books, and watch TV series.
    • The gym and my karate training also helps to manage the stress.
    • But if 2024 was anything to go by, 2025 will be brutal.
    • Take care of yourselves my dudes, talk to you next time for my yearly wrap!
    • Happy Christmas.

      • Notes and subscription links are here: https://techleader.pro/a/670-Burnout-(TLP-2024w51)

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      Tech Leader ProBy John Collins