5 Ways to Prevent Remote Team Burnout

There’s no denying that remote work has its perks. You can take work with you wherever you go, manage a healthy work/life balance, and enjoy greater flexibility — however, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Just as working in an office can lead to burnout, so can working from home. If you’re a remote team manager, you must be aware of the signs of burnout and take steps to prevent it.

Here are five ways to do just that:

1. Establish a clear line of communication with your remote team

Just because you’re not in the same physical space doesn’t mean you can’t (or shouldn’t) communicate frequently. It’s even more important to stay in touch when you’re not sharing the same office.

An excellent first step would be implementing a communication platform for your team – Slack or Microsoft teams seem to be the most popular. These platforms allow companies to create different communication channels (professional and informal) catered to your business needs.

Make sure you have a system for regular check-ins, whether daily stand-ups, weekly one-on-ones, or group meetings. The key is to create an open line of communication so that your team feels comfortable coming to you with any questions, concerns, or wins that you may have.

2. Set reasonable goals and expectations for your team

Setting unrealistic goals and expectations is a recipe for disaster, no matter where your team is. When working with a remote team, it’s even more important to set achievable goals that everyone understands and agrees to.

If you’re not sure where to start, try using the SMART goal-setting framework:

S – Specific: You should ensure that your goals are clear and concise.

M – Measurable: Quantifiable goals allow your team to track progress easily.

A – Achievable: Setting unattainable goals will add stress to your day-to-day tasks. The goal should be challenging but achievable.

R – Relevant: The goal should be relevant to your business objectives.

T – Timely: Without your goals fitting within a specific deadline, it’s more likely that the work will stall.

Creating SMART goals will help your team stay on track while maintaining productivity – regardless of if you’re working from the office or remotely.

3. Encourage your team to take breaks throughout the day

When you’re working remotely, it can be easy to keep going and going until you’ve reached the point of burnout. That’s why it’s essential to encourage your team to take breaks throughout the day, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Make sure everyone is taking time for lunch, getting up, and moving around regularly. Encourage your team to step away from their screens and even take a walk outside if possible. We have all experienced firsthand how sitting at a desk for too long can take a toll on our ability to focus.

Robert Pozen, senior lecturer at MIT and author of Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours, says it’s best to take a break every 75 and 90 minutes. This break restates your brain and allows it to consolidate the information you’ve been focusing on.

4. Facilitate team bonding activities, both in-person and online

One of the best ways to prevent burnout is to foster a sense of community within your team. Team bonding activities can help, whether done in person or online.

Organize an office-wide happy hour once a month, plan a monthly virtual team lunch, or start an online book club. Whatever you do, the important thing is that you’re giving your team a chance to connect on a personal level.

Establishing a solid personal relationship with your team gives employees an incentive to perform their best online or at the office.

5. Celebrate successes together, no matter where you are in the world

When a team member hits a milestone, whether it’s big or small, celebrate it! Send a congratulatory message or e-mail, give a shout-out during your next team meeting, or even better – send a physical greeting card or gift.

Whatever you do, make sure everyone on the team feels appreciated. That will motivate employees to perform their absolute best, even if they happen to be working remotely.

What is your company doing to prevent remote burnout?

We’ve all experienced it one way or another. However, these small changes can significantly impact your company’s operations, whether in the office or home. So, as the modern workplace increasingly becomes remote, it’s essential to take a step back and reflect on how your company is taking action to prevent remote burnout.

Reach out to BrainSell and see how one of our growth enablement experts can help you ensure remote employees can work to the best of their abilities.