Valerie Polunas

Each fall, I hear geese honking as they fly overhead, migrating from one nesting location to another. Leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow before carpeting the forest floor, and the air gets just a little sharper. I love this change of season. Winter? That’s another story. I know it’s coming (thanks Game of Thrones), but I still resist the cold, the gray days, and the feeling of being stuck indoors. Workplace change can stir up a similar response. An employee might welcome...

Burnout isn't always an individual problem. When exhaustion, conflict, mistakes, and disengagement begin appearing across a team, managers need to examine the system—not just encourage employees to practice more self-care. Discover practical ways HR can help managers spot and address team burnout before it spreads.

Two managers can attend the same leadership training, receive the same tools, and work within the same organizational culture, yet develop at very different rates. One manager always has an answer, even when it is wrong. The other is willing to say, “I don’t know yet,” ask questions, and investigate further. One assumes employees understand what is expected. The other creates clarity by discussing and co-defining expectations with the team. One relies on assumptions when pressure builds. The...