3 Leadership Rules To Avoid Burning Out Your Team

When I managed Abbott's business across Latin America and Canada, I had a habit of sending emails to my teams over the weekend.

One day, the General Manager of Latin America pulled me aside and said:

"Andy, could you hold off sending emails during the weekend? In Latin America, weekends are family time. When people see your emails, they feel pressured to respond, taking them away from their downtime."

This conversation was a real eye-opener. I realized that sending emails on weekends disrupted my team's work-life balance. After this insightful chat, I adjusted my approach. Here are three simple leadership rules I developed to maintain team enthusiasm and avoid burnout:

1. No Weekend Emails: I stopped sending work emails over the weekend following the GM's advice. It became clear that even if I was working on Saturday, I didn't need to pull my team into that orbit unless it was an emergency. As a leader, it's crucial to respect your team's downtime. Working on the weekend is okay, but let your team enjoy their time off without the pressure of work emails.

TIP: Draft your emails over the weekend, but schedule them for Monday morning. Create a "Monday" folder for your notes and hit send when the workweek begins.

2. Avoid Late Friday Team Calls: Late Friday meetings or calls can be more frustrating than productive. By late Friday afternoon, everyone is wrapping up their week and looking forward to the weekend. Scheduling non-urgent meetings at this time can lead to frustration rather than progress. Before setting up a late Friday call, ask yourself, "Can this wait until Monday?" Often, the answer is "YES."

TIP: Try to schedule meetings and calls before 3:00 PM on Fridays. Wrapping up your team communications lets your direct reports start their weekend with less work stress. Save Monday morning for essential discussions.

3. Kickstart Mondays with Energy: Mondays are your chance for a fresh start. Use the beginning of the week to bring new energy and focus to your team. Mondays set the tone for the week ahead, so make them count. Share updates, insights, and direction to motivate your team as they start their week.

TIP: Harness the power of Fresh Start Mondays. Use Mondays as a time to energize and guide your team. Let your team enjoy their weekend, and come Monday, launch into the week with enthusiasm and clear direction.

Implementing these simple practices can significantly improve your team's morale and productivity. Remember, creating a positive work environment involves respecting boundaries and setting a strong, focused tone at the start of each week.