'Women can be better allies' on dealing with burnout

Angela Lee (pictured), senior vice president – regional claims director, southeast at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), can attest to feeling burnout and fatigue during her 21 years in the insurance industry.

“I’ve certainly felt it at various points throughout my career,” said Lee. “One thing that I’ve learned recently is that prioritizing self-care is critical. It’s been challenging at time to find the time to squeeze in activities.

“I have a rule where if it’s on my calendar, it’s going to happen. So, I found that it’s been helpful for me is to schedule time. I make appointments with myself, whether it’s just to go out to Starbucks, or to meet a friend or a colleague for lunch, just to take a step away from my desk.”

Lee, who is set to speak on a panel at the Women in Insurance Atlanta summit in March, knows all too well how difficult it can be to switch off while working from home during COVID-19. Having joined MMA two years ago at the height of pandemic, she was also determined to prove herself in her new role.

“There was never a time to turn off because your computer was always there. I felt like it was probably working longer hours and taking on more work,” the insurance head recalled. “There’s a lot of stress that comes with trying to prove yourself in a new role and get a sense of the company and your responsibilities.”

How can women be better allies to other women in the workplace?

For Lee, internal pressure plays a significant role in women’s burnout levels. Managing their roles at home and at work can immensely taxing for women, who often find themselves the primary caretaker for their children. But women also need to champion each other during difficult times by showing empathy for each other, she said.

“I think we often feel like we must do more than our male counterparts to show our worthiness in particular role, especially the higher up we go,” Lee explained. “The internal pressure causes us to stay up and work late, work weekends, and sometimes even carve out time from our families just to be able to prove ourselves.

“Because we do hold ourselves to a higher standard, I have often found that women can be tough on each other. We hold each other accountable, which is great. But I think we need to do that in an empathetic way, and to be an ally and support for each other.”

The vicious cycle of internal pressure and burnout can take a toll on working women. Lee said this was especially heightened for her during COVID-19, but it’s also helped her develop more perspective about her work-life balance and mental health.

“You get to a point where you’re like, ‘What am I doing this for?’” Lee said. “It gives you some perspective about what’s important, about valuing your mental health and being at your best so that you can lead your team the right way. It made me think about what I could do better, and the fact that I do need to prioritize.”

How can insurance leaders prevent the burnout among staff?

Instituting much-needed changes in her daily routine, work prioritization, and self-care habits have made a huge difference for Lee. As an insurance leader, she wants to ensure her staff can overcome excessive fatigue. The key, she said, is communication.