How to Spot Burnout Early in Hybrid Teams

allynitschke
Oct 14
2 min read

Because the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to prevent it from becoming a crisis, for the person, the team, and the organisation.

One of the biggest challenges of hybrid leadership is that it’s harder to see what’s really going on with your people. You don’t always bump into them in the hallway, notice their body language in a meeting, or catch that sigh of exhaustion over coffee.

That’s why spotting burnout early in hybrid teams requires leaders to be more intentional than ever.

Why Burnout Slips Under the Radar

Hybrid work gives people flexibility, which is fantastic, but it also makes it easier to hide signs of burnout. Remote employees may suffer in silence, masking fatigue with a brave face on Zoom. In-office employees may feel pressure to look “fine” even when they’re running on empty.

By the time someone admits they’re burned out, it’s often too late.

Warning Signs Leaders Should Watch For

Disengagement
Once-enthusiastic employees go quiet in meetings, withdraw from team discussions, or stop contributing ideas.
Cynicism
Positivity turns to sarcasm, and optimism is replaced with frustration. People start questioning the point of their work.
Avoidance
Employees dodge calls, turn off cameras, or avoid extra responsibilities. Their bandwidth is gone.
Performance Dips
Missed deadlines, repeated mistakes, or lack of focus can all signal cognitive overload.
Overcompensation
Ironically, some burned-out employees push harder, working longer hours to “prove” they’re coping.

Practical Steps to Spot and Support

Regular 1:1s: Not just for task updates, but for open check-ins. Ask: “How are you, really?”
Pulse Surveys: Short, anonymous surveys can flag stress patterns before they escalate.
Workload Reviews: Audit meeting hours, after-hours emails, and overtime trends. Data often reveals burnout before people admit it.
Role Modelling: If leaders share their own challenges honestly, it gives employees permission to do the same.

Final Thought

In hybrid work, you can’t rely on gut feel alone. Courageous leaders must be proactive, curious, and consistent in spotting burnout early.

Because the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to prevent it from becoming a crisis, for the person, the team, and the organisation.

If you would like to book in a time to speak with Ally: CLICK HERE.

Ally Nitschke is a best-selling Author, an award-winning Thought Leader and Speaker. She has been working with leaders and as a Leader for over 20 years.

She is on a mission to change the way we communicate at work, to lean into those uncomfortable conversations and lead with courage.

Ally is a Keynote Speaker at conferences, delivers Transformational Programs & highly engaging workshops as well as provides Executive Coaching.