Coach Burnout and How to Fix It

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“Wait, I’m the coach, I shouldn’t burn out !!!”
I know too much….
I know techniques to calm my nerves…
I love what I do…..

WHY AM I HITTING BURNOUT?

It’s confusing when you don’t understand the different ways that burnout can occur.
Even if you hit burnout, it doesn’t mean that you are washed up and finished as a coach.
It means that you are still human.

I hit burnout 3 times.
It was rough.

Snuck right up on me.
Not all coaches make it through a phase.

If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.

Ok, let’s disassemble the “burnout” and look at what’s causing it.
There’s many reasons for burnout to happen.
I narrowed it down to these 5.

1. Giving without Refilling

2. Purpose Confusion

3. Over-Identification with the “coach” role

4. Unresolved Emotional Residue

5. Emotional Overload (Carrying clients energy)

I’ll explain each of these in more detail…

GIVING WITHOUT REFILLING
You constantly pour into others without receiving inspiration, rest, or mentorship yourself. You dread your won sessions, feel empty inside or can’t access creativity.

THE FIX:

• Schedule “input” time every week - books, mentors or time in nature.

• Take quarterly reflection days to reset your personal energy system.

• Reminder: growth isn’t selfish, it's maintenance for your soul.

PURPOSE CONFUSION
You start measuring your success by clients results, sales, validation, testimonials - instead of by obedience to your purpose. You lose your passion for your message, doubt your effectiveness or wonder if you’re “done” coaching.

THE FIX:

• Get your “WHY” written up so you can revisit it often. Do your work to fulfill that “WHY”. It will straighten out your wandering mind.

OVER-IDENTIFICATION with the “COACH” ROLE
You feel you must always be strong, wise or emotionally clean to help others. That pressure blocks authenticity and rest….and recovery. You isolate when you struggle or feel guilt for being human.

THE FIX:

• Create space where you are NOT the coach. Time with friends, hobbies, other creative outlets.

• Be real with trusted people about your own growth edges.

• Shift your inner story from “I must lead”, to “I must be real”.

UNRESOLVED EMOTIONAL RESIDUE
Your clients' stories trigger your own unhealed wounds and instead of precessing them, you push through to “stay professional”. Sudden fatigue, irritability or unexplained anxiety.

THE FIX:

• After a coaching session, journal what was triggered.

• Work with your own mentor or therapist regularly.

• Remember, if you do get triggered…it’s an opportunity for your next level of healing.

EMOTIONAL OVERLOAD (Carrying clients’ energy)
You absorb your clients emotions instead of observing them. Over time, you start carrying their pain, confusion and fear inside your own energy field. Yeah, not good for you. You end up feeling drained after appointments, don’t want to market or teach and even start avoiding calls.

THE FIX: 

• Before each session visualize a boundary of light around you to protect you from others emotions so they can’t float over and soak into you.

• Say to yourself - I’m here to SERVE not soak.

• AFTER each session, move your body - walk, stretch, shake, jump, to clear the energy.

• Brush off your body as though you are sweeping off any attached energy. It works.

“Almost everything will work again 
if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
~Anne Lamott

It’s worth the time to cruise Youtube and watch a 3+ videos about “Burnout”. Great insight to learn about your nervous system. The more you know… the less you will hit burnout.

Your mission to serve others is a big deal. There’s no reason to burn out.
Time to increase your self care.
Burnout is a signal that it’s time to take care of yourself more.

Kirk

Improve your People Skills → 3ke.to/Empathskill
Increase your Coaching Skill → 3ke.to/FastTrack

Coach Kirk

CHILL SONG: Here’s a chill song…. allow your system to unwind a bit.
You’re worth it.