SmartBrief on Leadership - How to be productive on business trips

About two-thirds of your employees will feel stressed or burned out, according to Gallup, which is why it's imperative to implement effective strategies, including incentive programs and milestone rewards to recognize achievements, fostering a culture of recognition with regular feedback and providing employees with autonomy and predictable workloads, writes Scott Newman, the president & CEO of Quality Incentive Company. "In the end, reducing burnout isn't just about minimizing stress; it's about creating a workplace where employees feel valued, motivated and connected to their work."

Put it into practice: Giving your team members a sense of ownership and control over their jobs can go a long way to preventing or defusing burnout, Newman writes. "Consistently overloading employees with work only exacerbates burnout, regardless of what incentives you offer."

Staying productive while on the road for business trips requires time to recharge, writes entrepreneur Isla Moon, who also recommends sticking to your daily routine as much as possible. "There's a lot we can learn from taking a step back and immersing ourselves in a new space with the intention of prioritizing mental well-being before burnout rolls around," Moon writes.

Put it into practice: Don't forget to delegate while you're away so you don't have to be on call 24 hours a day. "How you allocate your time matters, which means there is no room for growth if you don't give yourself the time," Moon writes.

Watch your words and tone at work to avoid sounding condescending, which can happen when using six common phrases that undermine your message. Celeste Headlee, author of "We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter," recommends steering clear of calling something "cute" or saying "well, actually," or "you just need to ..." or other phrases that can offend people.

Put it into practice: People sound condescending when they're coming from a place of superiority rather than truly listening to the other person. "Be ready to be corrected and see it as just a growth opportunity between the both of you," Headlee says.

Tree-filled neighborhoods can lower heart disease risk markers similarly to starting regular exercise, research from the University of Louisville's Green Heart Louisville Project finds. The study involved planting thousands of trees in specific areas and found a notable decrease in a blood marker associated with heart disease in residents of the neighborhoods.

Blue is a preferred color worldwide but not in food due to its rarity in nature. Charles Spence from Oxford University notes that blue foods lack natural associations, making them a canvas for culinary innovation, however, the color works best in "fun food" categories such as candy and can be psychologically off-putting in other foods, especially in meat.

As the financial landscape for the renewable energy industry continues to evolve, EDF Renewables Chief Financial Officer Luis Silva shares his perspective on what lies ahead for the energy transition. Silva delves into topics such as the cost of capital, construction trends, the solar supply chain and the long-term prospects of offshore wind in the US. Silva also explains why the transferability of tax credits will have a long-lasting impact on how projects are financed.

In observance of Labor Day in the US, SmartBrief will not publish Monday, Sept. 2.

I know a thing or two about burnout. That's what led to my retirement last September from the spiritual community I founded 14 years ago. Even now, nearly a year later, I can call up those feelings of being overwhelmed and emotionally drained. I felt the first inklings of burnout coming on at least six months before it became a fully involved emotional four-alarm fire. I tried everything I could think of, including taking a short retreat, but it was too late. I had to step away from the job for my own mental health.

This is why Scott Newman's advice is so important. As leaders, we must create cultures where our teams can thrive and that means giving them the autonomy and recognition they need so they realize their day-to-day activities are vital to the overall mission of your organization. Sadly, I had not created enough backstops and support within my own organization to prevent burnout from overtaking me and others on my staff.

I invite you to review your culture and communicate openly and honestly with your teams about burnout and how to spot its sparks before it becomes a raging fire. As Newman writes: "When employees understand how their work contributes to the broader success of the organization, they are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and connection."

One of the best ways I've found to tamp down those flames of burnout is to take a retreat, even if it's just a nice long walk. Researchers would say that walk should be out among some trees somewhere. Even if you don't live or work near areas with a lot of trees, you can find them somewhere nearby. I invite you to go take a nice long walk in the woods this weekend and sit among the trees. Their shade and silent strength may be just what you need to renew your own soul.

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