A Manager’s Guide to Helping Teams Face Down Uncertainty, Burnout and Perfectionism

Uncertainty, burnout and perfectionism are holding teams back — Liz Fosslien is here to share tactical advice (and her signature witty illustrations) on how managers can help.

Outline

“‘There are two kinds of people who don’t experience painful emotions such as anxiety or disappointment, sadness, envy,’ writes psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar. ‘The psychopaths and the dead.’”

This is the last sentence of the preamble to Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy’s new book, “ Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay.”

Liz Fosslien, author and Head of Content & Communications at Humu

HOW TO CALIBRATE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT OF YOUR TEAM — AND AVOID COMMON TRAPS:

In addition to “burnout burnout,” there are several other boulders managers are struggling to shoulder. “Managers are sandwiched between leaders’ priorities and the immediate needs of their teams. Executives want managers to drive innovation and strategic initiatives, while managers are struggling to tread water with the basics,” says Fosslien.

“In our research at Humu, we found that managers reported that the greatest overall challenge has been balancing team member workloads and combating burnout (44%), followed closely by recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new members (41%) and keeping track of their team’s work (37%).”

Fosslien shares five more specific traps managers are liable to fall into as they struggle to calibrate their own emotional loads:

Getting emotionally leaky: Managers should practice ‘selective vulnerability’ and pair a moment of vulnerability with a path forward.
Assuming top performers are fine: Regularly check in with all team members, not just those visibly struggling.
Pretending at PTO: Take real time off and make it clear you won’t be available while away.
Turning into a messaging monster: Avoid sending impulsive, poorly worded communications under stress.
Neglecting the basics: Balance emotional support with setting clear expectations and goals.

HOW TO HELP YOUR TEAM WORK THROUGH UNCERTAINTY:

Every passing week seems to add to the feeling that we’re living through some truly turbulent times. “Psychologists who study stress have identified three primary factors that make us feel awful: a lack of control, unpredictability, and the perception that things are getting worse. In other words: uncertainty,” Fosslien and Duffy write in their book’s first chapter.

Tip #1: Acknowledge what’s happening.

“When the news is filled with terrifying headlines, the most important thing you can do as a leader is to acknowledge what's happening. If you say nothing, your team will assume you either don't know or don't care about world events — which will erode trust.”

Tip #2: Make plans — from which you’ll deviate.

“Get together as a team to figure out the 2-3 most likely future scenarios and map out a few specific next steps for each one.”

Tip #3: Invest in collective rituals.

“Supporting recovery time through rituals can help ground the team.”

Kick off weekly team meetings with a fun prompt.
Schedule regular breaks throughout the day.

HOW TO HELP YOUR TEAM PUSH BACK AGAINST PERFECTIONISM:

Research suggests that perfectionism can negatively affect performance. Fosslien offers advice for wrestling with these feelings:

Tip #1: Identify your style.

“Consider which of the three types of managers aligns with you: good enough, not good enough, or uber manager.”

Tip #2: Rightsize your expectations.

“Reflect on your perfectionist thoughts and the unrealistic expectations impacting you and your team.”

Tip #3: Share your CV of failures.

“Encouraging others to share their failures helps combat comparison and perfectionism.”

Tip #4: Share at 80%.

“Encourage your teams to share their work when it’s 80% complete for iterative feedback.”

HOW TO HELP YOUR TEAM BEAT BURNOUT:

“Burnout isn’t only about the hours you put in. It’s also a function of the stories you tell yourself and how you approach your work.”

Tip #1: Look for the warning signs.

“Be aware of subtle cues indicating you or your team might need to reassess workloads.”

Tip #2: Show up (and start digging).

“Be empathetic and check in meaningfully with your reports during 1:1s.”

Tip #3: Set clear goals and spotlight progress.

“Help team members set goals that connect to the team’s mission and reflect on accomplishments.”

Tip #4: Protect your team’s time — even when they won’t.

“Make sure to prioritize your team's well-being and support them in taking necessary breaks.”

Cover image by Getty Images / Roc Canals. Illustrations by Liz Fosslien. Photo of Liz by Bonnie Rae Mills.