Julie Hutchinson

As a leader, it’s important to recognize signs of anxiety or depression in your employees. 

Anxiety and depression are increasing in the workforce.  So much so that a Gartner HR survey has revealed that ¼ of the workforce describes itself as depressed since the COVID 19 pandemic.

As a leader, it’s important to recognize signs of depression and anxiety in your employees because many may be suffering in silence while trying to maintain a strong, confident demeanour.

Here are some subtle indications that a leader can look for when an employee may be going through anxiety or depression:

1. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬
🌿Increased Irritability or Anger: Gets angry or becomes uncharacteristically irritable during interactions.
🌿Withdrawal from Conversations: Less participation in meetings, reduced engagement, or preferring written communication over face-to-face discussions.

2. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
🌿Overthinking: Excessive analysis and seeking more data than usual before making decisions.
🌿Avoidance: Delegating more responsibilities and avoiding high-stakes decisions.

3. 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬
🌿Exhaustion: Showing signs of fatigue, such as yawning frequently, appearing physically tired, or complaining about lack of sleep.
🌿Hyperactivity: Swinging to the opposite extreme with periods of hyperactivity, possibly as a coping mechanism.

4. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬
🌿Increased Absenteeism: More frequent sick days or unexpected absences.
🌿Extended Working Hours: Either staying late or arriving much earlier than usual, possibly to escape personal issues.

5. 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬
🌿Neglect of Personal Appearance: Deterioration in personal grooming or dress, which is unusual for the individual.
🌿Physical Complaints: Frequent complaints about headaches, stomach issues, or other stress-related ailments.

6. 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬
🌿Mood Swings: Noticeable fluctuations in mood, ranging from high enthusiasm to deep lows.
🌿Decreased Enthusiasm: Loss of interest in projects and initiatives they once found exciting.

7. 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
🌿Defensiveness: Becoming overly defensive when receiving feedback.
🌿Increased Sensitivity: Taking criticism very personally or reacting strongly to minor comments.

8. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
🌿Self-Doubt: Verbalising doubts about their capabilities or worth.
🌿Pessimism: Frequently focusing on adverse outcomes or expressing a bleak outlook on future projects.

Recognizing these signs in your employees is crucial.

How do you support your colleagues when they show these signs?

P.S: Video credits goes to the respective owner.

#Juliecore #Empathy #Success

I am not in favor of this quote -“𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐔𝐩“

Now listen to this.

As a leader, you constantly give your best to your team, organization, and mission.

You've worked tirelessly for years, pushing yourself beyond limits and believing that “never giving up“ is the key to success.

But here's the truth: this mindset can sometimes drain you more than it empowers you.

I've seen this firsthand with the leaders I work with. They've dedicated their careers to their organizations, their teams, and their goals—but it's taken a toll.

Sleepless nights, stress, constant pressure, and the relentless “push“ in their minds to keep going, no matter the cost.

But here's the problem with this mindset: never giving up often means we forget the importance of slowing down.

It doesn't allow us to enjoy our weekends or cherish the relationships we have outside of work.

It keeps us trapped in a cycle of stress and burnout, where we feel like we must keep going—no matter how we feel.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.

You are allowed to rest. In fact, rest is essential for long-term success and emotional resilience.

The key isn't quitting—it's about building emotional resilience to weather the storm without being entirely consumed by it.

Leaders who take time to nurture their inner world develop the ability to remain unaffected by external pressures.

They learn to lead with clarity, confidence, and balance—without burning out.

𝐒𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Rest, but don't quit.

Take time to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.

Permit yourself to rest without feeling like you're falling behind.

When you cultivate emotional resilience, you can continue leading with passion and purpose without sacrificing your well-being.


Because authentic leadership isn't about constantly pushing—it's about knowing when to rest and when to rise.

Take some time this weekend and rest.  Enjoy life and your loved ones. You deserve it!

#Juliecore #BurnoutPrevention