Managers, Beware of Boreout: A Hidden Threat
Boreout, or chronic boredom in the workplace, is a growing yet often overlooked issue affecting employees' motivation, energy, and overall performance. Employees who have mastered their roles may find themselves unchallenged and disengaged, leading to significant fatigue and lack of motivation. Fortunately, addressing boreout and reigniting an employee's potential is entirely possible with a proactive approach. Here’s how managers can identify and tackle this issue to help employees and drive overall business success.
Recognising the Signs of Boreout
If you notice an employee’s motivation and energy levels dipping, it’s worth considering whether they may be experiencing boreout. Boredom can often result when someone has exhausted the challenges of their current role, leading them to feel unfulfilled. The first step to addressing this is having an open, honest conversation with the employee. Ask questions like:
Are you feeling challenged and motivated in your role?
Do you find your work stimulating?
An open discussion can help uncover if they’re struggling with boredom and need a new challenge.
Implementing a Plan to Reignite Motivation
If boreout seems to be the problem, it’s time to take action with an intentional strategy to push the employee beyond their comfort zone. Here’s a suggested approach:
Assign More Challenging Tasks: Start by giving them a task or project that’s typically reserved for a higher-level role. This tests their skills and gives them a sense of purpose and achievement.
Encourage Side Projects: Introduce side projects that require a new skill set or a higher level of involvement, allowing the employee to expand their expertise and feel engaged.
Evaluate Their Performance: After giving them a challenging task or project, review their performance. Did they find the work stimulating? Were they re-energised? This assessment will help you decide on further steps, such as more challenging responsibilities or possibly even a coaching process if deeper issues persist.
Elevating Talent and Preventing Boreout
If the employee thrives with new challenges and demonstrates enthusiasm, consider implementing a process of continuous engagement to keep them motivated. This could involve assigning even more ambitious tasks or leading collaborative projects. As they continue to grow, support their advancement with plans for formal promotions, increased responsibilities, or even a shift in position.
Alternatively, if the employee remains unengaged, it may signal a need for coaching to address potential long-standing frustrations or boredom that require deeper attention.
Don’t Let Boreout Waste Precious Resources
Too many employees feel trapped in roles that don’t allow them to reach their full potential, ultimately resulting in wasted time and talent. As a manager, it’s vital to recognise these signs early and take action to help employees thrive. By staying attentive to each team member’s engagement and growth, you not only avoid the costly impact of boreout but also foster a motivated, productive team.
Taking proactive steps today will ensure that your team remains energised and that your business benefits from the full potential of its talent. Address boreout now, and you’ll see the rewards in both employee satisfaction and organisational growth.
