Here's how you can rally support from colleagues or networks to prevent burnout in strategic communications.

To gain support from colleagues or networks and avoid burnout in strategic communications, build a culture of transparency and mutual support. Encourage team members to share challenges and coping skills to foster a supportive environment. Use professional networks for advice and resources, and promote realistic deadlines and workload distribution. Regular check-ins, collaborative problem-solving, and encouraging a good work-life balance through flexible scheduling and mental health initiatives can all help manage stress and prevent burnout.

Building trust within your team is crucial for preventing burnout in strategic communications. When trust exists, delegating tasks and sharing responsibilities becomes more seamless, fostering confidence that your colleagues will support you. Start by being transparent about your workload and stressors, and encourage open dialogue where everyone can express their concerns and challenges. This mutual understanding creates a supportive environment where team members can offer help proactively, preventing burnout before it takes hold.

Aligning on common goals is essential in strategic communications. Ensure everyone understands the overarching objectives and how their roles contribute to the bigger picture. Regularly discuss these goals and celebrate milestones achieved together. This fosters a sense of unity and purpose, and helps distribute the workload evenly, preventing any single team member from becoming overwhelmed. By keeping everyone aligned and engaged, you create a collaborative environment that enhances productivity and morale.

Shared goals are so important but it is not so much about declaration as it is about living the intent of shared goals on a daily basis. Let me give you an example! In my team, when the team got a new strategic project, each member raised their hand on what they wanted to do. This raising of hand had to be supplemented by what is their core skill they’re bringing to the goal or task on hand and where was the scope of learning for them. I

Taking regular breaks is essential for maintaining mental acuity and preventing burnout. Encourage colleagues to step away from their desks, take a walk, or engage in activities that help them recharge. Emphasize that breaks are a strategic tool for sustained productivity, not a sign of weakness. When breaks become a normal part of the work culture, everyone can manage their energy better and avoid fatigue. Promoting this practice fosters a healthier, more productive work environment.

I have had incredibly productive and insightful conversations with colleagues when we stepped away from our desks and talked over lunch or on a walk and took a break. Because inevitably, we’d talk about work or projects eventually and we’d discuss our current frustrations. If anyone is feeling burnout or stuck in the details of a project and not sure what the answers or next steps are, sometimes a break is the most productive thing you can do. You’ll find inspiration in places you might not expect and you’ll come back to your desk feeling energized and looking at your work with a new perspective.

Being empathetic and kind is easy. If you have the resources to do so, offer to help someone in need, and you will gain a remarkable experience. In a healthy team, it is essential to hear and be heard. Your kindness will be returned.

If a team collectively cannot see the full outcome of its success, it will always feel like the group is running in place or that their voices and efforts are unheard and unseen. Big or small wins, it shouldn’t matter, progress should be celebrated and shared. Whether it’s annual leadership meetings paired with informal team building activities or weekly updates on projects highlighting progress and successes, celebrating success should be an ongoing communications effort that comes from leadership and within the team.

Raise Awareness: Share Information to Educate your colleagues and network about the signs and effects of burnout. Use workshops, emails, or informal discussions to spread knowledge, let them know the effects of burnouts and ways to prevent it.