Burnout is an on-going, serious issue in the retail industry. The industry is so immense and pervasive that all of us, even if we’ve never working in retail, have knowledge of and experience with the problem.
Personally, some of you may be currently struggling with it or have in the past. If you haven’t personally experienced it you probably know friends and family who have. Finally, we’ve all had unpleasant interactions (many, many times) with burnt out sales clerks, managers or customer service reps.
Last month we looked at why “Retail Burnout Matters” preventshopliftingloss.net/retail-burnout-matters/. This month we’re going to look at how an individual can deal with it at a professional level.
There are many causes and symptoms of burnout. One of the most universal symptoms is a feeling of being stuck. The first place to start if you’re feeling trapped is with a plan of how to get free. People who feel caught often do damage to others and themselves when they try to get unstuck without a well thought out plan.
The first thing you can do is plan how to stay where you are. You may want to stay with the same company in the same store, but need to learn (traditional/online classes, TED talks, books, short term therapy, etc) some stress management techniques to improve your outlook. Many times if you change your attitude and coping skills it’s enough to make the situation better.
Or you may need to plan the next step. Boredom, complacency and restlessness, when not addressed, are often the causes of stress. What kind of change do you need (i.e. sell jewelry rather than candles, increased/decreased level of responsibility, go to a different store with the same company, go to a different company, work in a small boutique or a big box)?
Finally, you may need to plan to leave the field. Retail may no longer, or never has been, your career of choice. If so, then it’s time to figure out how, when and where to from here. For many people establishing some sort of forward momentum, no matter how small, is enough to lessen the trapped feeling.
Having a plan and actively, consciously working that plan is key to alleviating burnout, but it’s not easy. However, the alternative is to stay miserable, and as choices go choosing to stay unhappy is a poor one. As Yoda said, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
Nicole Abbott is a professional writer who’s had over 150 articles published. She’s a business consultant and former psycho-therapist with over 20 years of experience in mental health, business and addiction. She’s a coach, lecturer, trainer and facilitator. She has conducted over 200 workshops, trainings, presentations, seminars and college classes.
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