Burnout (TLP 2024w51)

The warning signs are there, I am burned out. Notes: It has been a few weeks now since my last podcast, and my topic today will explain why. Recently I have been feeling tired, grumpy, and sick with a cold. I have also been sleeping long hours, even falling asleep on the sofa after work. In the morning, I open my work cellphone with sense of dread for what new escalations I will have to face today. Basically I am burned out. My work-related stress is at an all-time high, in the past few weeks I have had to deal with the following: Getting a new manager (my fourth in 2 years). Hiring two more senior people into my team and on-boarding them. Conducting many annual performance reviews, some of which were difficult. Launching two new products into production. Multiple production issues across several products. Closing an external audit of one major product. Dealing with a new peer who seems quite hostile. Reorganizing my teams to get them ready for expansion next year. Getting budgets approved for that expansion. Getting vendor contracts signed off for 2025. Etc etc etc... Stop the train, I want to get off! Leadership is difficult, and you rarely (if ever) get thanked for any of it. You team, you peers, your manager, and your stakeholders are quick to point out issues, but rarely offer praise for successes. Frankly speaking, at this stage I am doing it for the money to support my family, and would happily quit and do a start-up full-time if I could secure the funding. In the interim, I have taken a few weeks off to recharge my batteries, when I will play games, read books, and watch TV series. The gym and my karate training also helps to manage the stress. But if 2024 was anything to go by, 2025 will be brutal. Take care of yourselves my dudes, talk to you next time for my yearly wrap! Happy Christmas. Notes and subscription links are here: https://techleader.pro/a/670-Burnout-(TLP-2024w51)