Although we have just had a bunch of news from TrailheaDX, and Dreamforce to look forward to in September, the Salesforce Winter ’22 Release is also right around the corner. There are many items you need to prepare for with each release, but at this… Read More
Author: Franz Malten Buemann
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Creative Burnout: How Do You Keep It at Bay?
Burnout has been a particularly hot topic during the past year, and understandably so. Even as more and more people receive their vaccines and resume normal activity, reports of burnout continue to rise.
Editor’s Note: This post was updated in July 2021.
In a survey from Indeed, 52% of respondents said they’re experiencing burnout in 2021, up from 43% in a survey done before COVID-19.
For those of us in creative fields, creative burnout is more than inconvenient. In some cases, it can actually be detrimental to our work.
If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur, you’re probably responsible for securing your income. This lifestyle can be especially difficult if you’re feeling creatively stifled or bankrupt.
So, what is there to do about it? Let’s take a look at what creative burnout is, and hear from some of our in-house creative team about their strategies for keeping it at bay.
What is creative burnout?
Creative burnout can mean different things to different people. Ultimately, creative burnout happens when those in creative fields begin to feel overworked and unstimulated by their projects.
Phil McKinney defines it like this: “Creative burnout is often associated with the feeling of doing the same thing over and over again or with the feeling of being in your own way.”
Whatever your personal definition is, you know how stressful and isolating burnout can be. In this article, we’ll discuss how to recover from burnout, and we’ll focus on processes from professionals who are in the same boat.
How to recover from creative burnoutChange your surroundings
Take a break
Focus on your health (physical and mental)Change your surroundings
Changing your surroundings may not seem especially profound, but studies show your environment strongly informs your creative process, as well as your ability to focus.
In fact, sounds, colors, temperatures, lighting, and the space around you are all factors in your creativity and cognitive abilities.
If you want to get increase creativity, consider some moderate background noise: 70-80 dB, to be exact. Enjoy an organized, dimly-lit space where you subconsciously allow yourself to relax. And, utilize the color blue when you can! Studies suggest taking these steps actually increases the creative flow.
Take a break
Taking a break from the grind can feel counterproductive, but breaks can be healthy, whether you’re taking a brief reprieve from your desk or a vacation.
Breaks from the computer
Never leaving your computer may make you feel more productive. In reality, you may actually be suffering the consequences of overwork. Without breaks, your productivity and mental health suffer.
Because of this, consider the ways you can get away. Coffee dates with coworkers, the occasional long lunch, and eating away from your desk are all healthy ways to get away and recharge.
Vacations from work
Maybe you need more than just a short break. If this is the case, consider taking a vacation.
If breaks seem counterproductive, vacations probably seem downright absurd. But actually, studies show people who don’t take vacations are more likely to be depressed, suffer from heart attacks, and are even less productive at work. So, take a vacation. For your productivity and wellness.
Focus on your health
Creative burnout could also be related to health issues in general. This is why it’s important to take a step back and consider your physical and mental health.
Physical health
We all know exercise and a good diet are essential. But they can seem more impossible the busier you are. Still, even busy professionals should make time for health, since healthier employees are statistically more productive.
To focus more on your physical health in a packed schedule, try replacing old habits with new ones.
For instance, instead of going out with people from work, you might try a yoga class with them instead. Replacement can also be applied to food. Replace a processed breakfast with a smoothie, or try switching that late-afternoon snack to fruits and veggies.
Mental health
You most likely apply psychology in your own work, so why not incorporate it into your personal life?
If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, take time for self-care. Meditation may help to an extent, but professional help is also a great long-term plan for treating mental health. A therapist can offer objective, educated opinions on your work environment, as well as your personal life.
Professionals tell us about their creative burnout strategies
Once you’ve taken time to refresh and recover, consider incorporating other people’s methods into your process. We asked various professionals about their tips for treating overwork fatigue. Here’s what they said:For me, it’s really about changing habits or routines. That means moving around to different rooms or workspaces throughout the day instead of being planted in the same spot.
I also change the channel and mix up my work soundtrack. Different tempos, styles, or genres can change your mood and reinspire.
And I change projects frequently It’s easy to feel burned out when I’ve been buried in one project for hours. Unless deadlines dictate otherwise, I need to shut down certain projects sometimes and literally forget about them for a few hours or days. Amazing how you can come back with fresh eyes and new ideas when you’ve been away from something for a while.– Randy Kershner, Sr. Copywriter, Selligent/CM Group
Don’t put pressure on yourself to have a “creative moment” during working hours. Usually, my “ah-ha” moments come to me when I least expect or have stepped away from the screen. This leads me to my next point:
Step away from your screen! Take a walk, change your scenery — it’s like giving your mind a mini nap. 15-20 minute meditations are great to just reset and refocus.
Oh, and make sure to set boundaries. This is different for different people. Some like to come in and hammer out an 8/9 hour day straight. Others like breaking up the day with various activities and then get things done later at night or earlier in the morning when things are quiet. Figure out what times work best for you and stick to them.– Becky Chastain, Sr. Art Director, CM Group
For me, burnout is almost always correlated to lack of personal connection with my coworkers. Someone once shared an insightful tidbit with me that I will never forget; “if you really want to be happy in your work space, you’ll make your goal to work with people versus working with tasks.”
I value the time I am able to dedicate to catching a quick (virtual) coffee with teammates because it allows me to breath, connect, and be human. I’d advise those who are experiencing work burnout to simply toss some time on the calendar to greet a new coworker or catch up with an old one.
It’ll make a heck of a difference— I promise.– Brianna Glenn, Marketing Content Manager, CM Group
Wrap up
As you can see, changing your environment, taking time for yourself, and concentrating on your health aren’t the only steps you can take when faced with a block.
Like the professionals above, you may also choose to visit other creative outlets for inspiration, or you may approach other professionals for feedback and one-on-one time.
The post Creative Burnout: How Do You Keep It at Bay? appeared first on Campaign Monitor. -
CX Is Evolving, Experts Conclude: Experience A Better Way (OpenTalk)
Customer behavior is clearly changing; new generations of customers interact and engage with brands differently. It is no longer an automatic assumption that customers will use a phone channel to reach an agent, they now have options — and they’re using them to their full effect. Younger generations are now digital natives who engage with agents across multiple channels and communicate effectively through platforms like social media. With these new digital behaviors and preferences, companies have quickly accelerated their transformation timelines to meet and exceed customer expectations on new channels. However, this evolving style of communication ultimately requires new strategies for successful CX and access to a 360-degree view of the customer. Full article: https://www.customercontactweekdigital.com/customer-experience/articles/cx-is-evolving-experts-conclude-experience-a-better-way-opentalk
submitted by /u/vesuvitas [link] [comments] -
Using AI and blockchain technology to make marketing a breeze?
Not really a master marketer myself, Really just still trying to figure out how all of this works. I found this platform called Ojamu that uses AI and blockchain technology to predict the most effective digital marketing strategy for cutting-edge brands. It made me wonder, why doesn’t everyone just use AI for their marketing? Doesn’t already do what marketing is but a lot better? aka looking at patterns, seeing what sells, etc. Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this, thank you.
submitted by /u/GentlemanGengar1 [link] [comments] -
Forrester research: embracing conversational support is business-critical
After surveying 523 customer support decision-makers, Forrester research found that embracing conversational support is business-critical. This research confirmed the companies that leverage the power of conversational support can successfully drive customer retention. Moreover, they reported an increase in customer satisfaction and business efficiency. In this article, we summarize the key research findings. The full report…
The post Forrester research: embracing conversational support is business-critical appeared first on Customer Experience Magazine. -
How Salesforce Works with iPadOS 15: The Future Portable Powerhouse
Apple’s iPad Pro has become increasingly laptop-like over the years with versatile IO ports, powerful hardware, an incredible touch screen display, and software that is slowly (but surely) leveraging the hardware features. iPadOS 15 brings significant upgrades – an entirely new Safari experience, features that… Read More
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How Your Call Center Can Overcome Agent Burnout
Do your contact center agents seem tired, irritable, or emotional? While it’s easy to assume they’re having a bad day, you could be ignoring a few classic signs of employee burnout.
Work and money are two of the most common sources of stress among adults. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this stress, with 52% of workers feeling burnt out this year.
Anyone can experience burnout, regardless of their job title, position, and salary. However, customer support workers are at a particularly high risk of burnout, and that risk is even higher for call centers. That’s why it’s so important for businesses to practice mindfulness and take steps to support the wellbeing of their agents and other employees.
How to Foster Agent Engagement in a Hybrid Contact Center
What causes call center burnout?
Stress is notoriously prevalent in call center agents. Because of this, 75% of call center agents are at risk of burnout.
Here are some of the most common causes for agent burnout:Unsustainably high workload
Emotional burden and/or abuse from customers
Overly strict workplace policies
Conflict with coworkers
Lack of progression or recognition
Lack of meaningful feedbackSounds stressful, right? Working long hours, receiving verbal abuse from customers, feeling snubbed by management, and not seeing any progress are enough to make an employee feel hopeless. In fact, the above reasons also contribute to high call center agent turnover.
That’s what burnout is – a gradual feeling of hopelessness towards work, paired with exhaustion, due to unrelenting stress.
Why Call Center Agent Engagement Matters
8 ways to prevent and address call center burnout.
Luckily, burnout doesn’t have to be part of your business culture. As a call center leader, it’s up to you and your management team to provide the support your team needs to do their work in a sustainable way. Here are just a few ways to do that:
1. Advocate for work-life balance.
Contact center managers have hard jobs. They must ensure agents are providing a consistently positive experience to all customers. To achieve this, your call center needs to prioritize work-life balance and create policies and procedures that support this.
Begin by auditing your current employee experience and identify aspects of their work that significantly contribute to stress and burnout. Are your agents able to take their breaks during peak periods? Do their have sufficient time off between shifts to rest and recharge? By fostering a company culture that values work-life harmony, you’ll have a happier and higher-functioning staff.
2. Invest in technology.
Call center technology doesn’t just improve your customer experience – it also takes pressure off your agents! If your call center operation isn’t streamlined, and your agents are spending significant time on manual tasks, it adds unnecessary work to their plate.
Invest in technology to improve your agents’ day-to-day so they can spend more time serving your customers. Cloud-based technology is especially great for remote and hybrid agents who don’t work from your physical location. This way, your agents will feel more accomplished at the end of the workday, and the risk of overwhelm during high call volume periods will be significantly lower.TIP:
Voice Call-Backs can alleviate pressure off your agents during high call volume periods by offering customers a call-back option as an alternative to waiting on hold.3. Offer flexible scheduling.
Shift work is an essential part of the traditional call center model. However, it can present its own set of challenges when it comes to agent engagement.
Flexible scheduling is a great alternative approach, as it allows agents to have more control over the hours they work. Contact centers with flexible scheduling show higher levels of morale and engagement overall.
4. Build strong inter-team relationships.
Employee relationships in a call center are important. Strong inter-team relationships help agents form bonds and build trust, which will make a huge impact on culture and morale.
Try planning activities as a team, scheduling regular team lunches, and investing in video chat software when necessary to connect with remote employees. By creating opportunities for staff to engage outside of daily work, you increase your chances of developing a positive and motivating work environment.
5. Give employees autonomy.
Offer your agents autonomy over their daily work to increase call center agent engagement. Employees enjoy work more if they have fluidity and independence in their day-to-day activities.
Empower your agents with autonomy by giving them the proper training to support their customers. Investing in your agents’ knowledge and skills will allow them to help their customers without relying on manager approvals and escalations, eliminating unnecessary roadblocks and giving them a sense of accomplishment with each interaction.
5 Important Strategies for Agent Engagement in 2021
6. Support their career growth.
As noted above, work and money are common sources of stress. So if your agents feel like they’re at a dead-end job, they are more susceptible to burnout.
Ensure there are ample opportunities for career growth in your contact center, and help your agents plan a path towards their career goals. An internal mentorship program can give them a sense of progression as they learn and grow with your business.
7. Provide meaningful feedback.
Offering feedback can put your agents’ minds at ease about where they stand performance-wise. By providing consistent feedback to your agents, both positive and constructive, you give them goals to work towards while making them feel good about their strengths. Experts recommend that you give feedback in person (or through a video chat) for optimal results.TIP:
Ask your agents how you can best support them with a call center agent engagement survey.8. Encourage physical fitness and wellness.
Exercise and healthy eating contribute to improving mental health. This isn’t an opinion – it’s science! Help your agents with their wellness efforts by allowing flexible breaks for physical activity, even for agents working from home. Offering gym memberships, wellness plans, and other resources and services are also great options.The post Blog first appeared on Fonolo. -
A coaching paradox
At the top tier of just about any sort of endeavor, you’ll find that the performers have coaches.
Pianists, orators and athletes all have coaches. In fact, it would be weird if we heard of someone on stage or on the field who didn’t have one.
And yet, in the world of business, they’re seen as the exception.
Part of the reason is that work feels like an extension of something we’ve been doing our whole lives. Figure skating isn’t like school, but showing up at work seems to be. “I’ve got this,” is a badge of honor.
And part of the reason is that a few coaches have made claims that stretch belief, and we’re not actually sure what they do. It doesn’t help that there’s no easy way to identify what sort of coach we need or what we’re going to get…
It turns out that the people with the potential to benefit the most from a coach are often the most hesitant precisely because of what coaching involves.
Talking about our challenges. Setting goals. Acknowledging that we can get better. Eagerly seeking responsibility…
And yet we avert our eyes and hesitate. It might be because having a coach might be interpreted as a sign of weakness. And what if we acknowledge our challenges but fail to overcome them? It could be that we don’t want to cause change to happen, or that we’re worried that we will.
One company I admire believes in coaches so much that they’ve put several on staff, ensuring that their leadership all benefit from one. But mostly, it’s something we have to pay for ourselves.
And so, paying for a coach, for something that’s hard to measure, which might be socially awkward, to get better at something that feels normal—combine that with a hesitancy to ask for help—it’s a wonder anyone has a coach.
The paradox is that the very things that hold us back are the reasons we need a coach in the first place.
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Gratitude is the ultimate employee reward
Maintaining an engaged workforce with an adequate employee reward has been more important than ever over the last 18 months. Businesses have been under immense pressure to keep the doors open. In amongst the turmoil, it’s easy to forget that employees too were navigating the impact of COVID on their personal and professional lives. Their…
The post Gratitude is the ultimate employee reward appeared first on Customer Experience Magazine. -
Salesforce Experience Cloud: What I Wish I’d Known Before Our Implementation
Salesforce Experience Cloud is a great product that provides companies the ability to collaborate with their employees, customers, and partners. If your company is looking to implement Experience Cloud (formerly ‘Community Cloud) in the future, you should ensure that you have enough time to fully… Read More