Managing Up
Employee
Direct
Telling your manager you are burned out
You are running on empty and need to say it before you break something.
Strategy
Frame it as a risk to the work, not a confession of weakness. Bring one concrete ask. Vague distress invites vague sympathy.
I want to flag something before it becomes a problem for the team. I have been running above capacity since the spring launch. My quality is starting to slip and I can feel it. What I need is the on-call rotation off my plate for the next two months, and the reporting handed to someone else permanently. Can we make that work?
If they push back
If they say everyone is stretched: "I know. I am not asking for special treatment, I am telling you where my line is before I cross it and cost you more."
What not to say
- I cannot do this anymore
- I am about to quit
- You have no idea what I am dealing with
- Never mind, forget I said anything
Follow-up
Thanks for listening today. To confirm: I am off on-call starting next rotation, and the weekly report moves to Sam by the 15th.