Let your team know it’s normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes—it happens to the best of us. Ask which parts of their workload feel toughest and work together to find tasks they can delegate or spread out. Share tips for managing tasks and encourage them to take real breaks and set boundaries. Remind them they don’t have to be "on" all the time. Most importantly, show your support. Their well-being matters just as much as their performance.

While this is inevitable to happen, there are a couple of ways to mitigate or arrest the impact before timelines or deliverables are eroded. Ensuring that the team member skills and capabilities are matched to the tasks and deliverables are key. Collaborative shadowing on occasion is helpful to guide and help when needed. However, one of the best techniques I've used to mitigate these issues is a daily huddle. Of the 9 elements of the huddle is the 'capacity' review. Yes, it can be uncomfortable to ask for help, but when performance is made visible and collaboration is encouraged, trust is rooted and hands are raised to ask for help before issues arise. I've created high performing teams over the years with this method. It works.

Time management is a crucial skill. Many meetings could be avoided and resolved with an email. My first step will be to talk to the team member to understand the root cause of the workload issue, how much time they spend in meetings, and whether those meetings are truly valuable. The goal is to clear their schedule as much as possible to allow for productive work. Next, I'll identify the most time-consuming tasks and explore more efficient methods or tools. Finally, I'll assess what tasks can be delegated or redistributed. The key is to encourage open communication, enabling team members to seek help and to find more efficient ways to achieve results.

With 12 years of experience in EdTech sales, I’ve learned that preventing burnout and maintaining team balance is essential for driving consistent performance. I prioritize identifying early signs of overwhelm through regular check-ins and open communication. Strategically redistributing workloads, setting clear priorities, and equipping team members with the right tools and support ensures no one feels burdened. I also advocate for fostering a culture where achievements are recognized, and taking time to recharge is encouraged. Balancing performance with well-being creates a motivated, high-performing team. I’d be glad to share more insights if you’d like to discuss this further...

When a team member is overwhelmed with tasks, it's important to step in and help prevent burnout while maintaining balance. Here’s how to support your colleague: Reassess and Redistribute Workload: Ensure that tasks are aligned with each team member’s strengths and capacity to prevent overwhelm. Encourage Open Dialogue: Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing stressors, and offer support or resources for managing stress. Implement Regular Check-ins: Monitor workloads through regular check-ins, allowing team members to voice concerns and request help when needed.

Creo que la buena organización de tareas, quizás armando una lista, enumerando, aliviana mucho a una persona cuánto está abrumada. Creo que las capacidades no las cuestionaría, solo lo ayudaría a organizar de tal forma que un día de trabajo fuese menos abrumador. He trabajado en cocina, dónde existen muchas tareas por hacer, tiempos diferentes de cocción, y muchas producciones y me ha servido aplicar una organización de tareas, tanto para la apertura como para el cierre.

From my experience, integrating physical activities into my team’s daily routine significantly reduced stress, burnout, and sick leaves. It also boosted happiness, productivity, and creativity. Here are a few practical ideas to try: --> Introduce short movement breaks for the team, like stretching, yoga, or a quick walk after lunch. These quick resets can improve mood and focus. --> Take some meetings outside! Walking meetings not only break up the monotony of the day but also enhance clarity and decision-making by promoting better blood flow and fresh thinking. Let me know if this helped ;)

Pela minha experiência em Gestão de Pessoas e Liderança, eu indico que um bom caminho para prevenir o esgotamento de um membro sobrecarregado e manter o equilíbrio na equipe, é fundamental ter uma conversa individual para entender a origem da sobrecarga e avaliar como as tarefas estão distribuídas, redistribuindo responsabilidades quando necessário. Incentive pausas regulares, revise processos para simplificar atividades e elimine etapas desnecessárias, garantindo que as prioridades estejam claras. Além disso, crie um ambiente seguro para diálogos abertos, valorize o esforço do time e dê o exemplo ao equilibrar produtividade e autocuidado, promovendo uma cultura de apoio mútuo e reconhecimento constante.

- Inicie uma conversa aberta e empática para entender a situação e as preocupações do membro sobrecarregado. - Avalie a carga de trabalho de toda a equipe e redistribua tarefas de forma equilibrada, respeitando habilidades e limites. - Priorize as tarefas mais críticas, ajustando prazos ou eliminando atividades menos relevantes. - Ofereça suporte contínuo, como mentorias ou ferramentas que simplifiquem o trabalho. - Incentive pausas regulares e promova a importância do bem-estar físico e mental. - Realize check-ins frequentes para monitorar o equilíbrio da equipe e prevenir futuras sobrecargas. #GestãoDeEquipes #SaúdeNoTrabalho #LiderançaPositiva

During a critical oncology trial, I noticed that Sarah, one of our clinical research associates (CRAs), was struggling to keep up with monitoring multiple high-enrollment sites. Her precision—a strength we valued—was being stretched thin by tight deadlines. Recognizing the risk of burnout, I convened a team meeting to reassess workloads. We redistributed some of Sarah’s responsibilities, assigning less complex sites to other CRAs, allowing her to focus on the high-priority locations. To foster ongoing support, we introduced bi-weekly check-ins for open dialogue. The result? Sarah’s morale and efficiency rebounded, and the trial remained on track. This experience reinforced the power of teamwork and task alignment in preventing burnout.