If you are a manager who is feeling stressed or burned out as we approach the end of the year, you are not alone. According to Gallup, managers are currently the most stressed and least engaged of all employee groups. This year only 31% of managers were engaged at work, and 55% were looking for a new job. Many of us aren’t surprised by those statistics because managers are so often caught in the middle: they don’t have the authority or insight of executive leadership, and they must lead themselves and others through confusion and increasing workloads.

When we face challenges at work, most of us either isolate, complain, or cope. Unfortunately, all of these approaches may lead to more stress in the long run. When we really want to get out of a professional rut, we need input and insight from three key sources: internal leaders, external peers, and coaches.

Internal Leaders

These are the people within your organization that you can turn to for guidance. This group may include your manager or other senior leaders, and it can also include peers who have a track record of providing valuable insight and being solution oriented. They understand the nuances of your company culture and know the personalities involved in a situation. Connecting with this group can bring more clarity and direction, and it can give you a greater sense of belonging as you identify the people who are willing to support you and your work.

External Peers

Managers in every organization are facing similar challenges such as managing a hybrid workforce, differences between generations, changes in technology, and increasing work responsibilities. Taking time to connect with managers from other companies or industries can provide insights on how others are tackling similar problems. Their insights may give you new perspective on how to approach your team and leadership.

Coaches

A coach specifically focuses on you and your growth, and the fastest way to grow is by focusing on your strengths. A strengths-based coach works with you to identify your talents, which are naturally occurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. With this understanding, a coach will then help you look at your role and responsibilities to determine how you can best use your talents to achieve the results you want. Additionally, a coach can help you think about your organizational structure and create an actionable strategy that benefits you, your team, and your organization.

People in each of these three categories give us necessary perspective. As you think about your goals for the next year, consider who else you may need to add to your support system to not only succeed from a professional standpoint, but to also do it in a way that helps you enjoy your work.

Looking for a management coach or want to expand your community of peers? Request more info on The Brilliant Manager Lab launching in February 2024!