In today’s fast-paced and emotionally demanding workplaces, leaders are expected to do more than drive performance—they must prioritize people. Emotional fatigue, a growing concern across organizations, stems from prolonged stress and mental strain, quietly eroding energy, engagement, and well-being. If left unchecked, it can escalate into burnout, affecting not just individuals but entire teams. Empathetic leadership offers a powerful solution.

We place overall wellbeing at the heart of our culture, alongside the pillars of Success and Happiness—empowering every individual to flourish with purpose, pride, and balance.We truly believe that when leaders lead with empathy, they don’t just prevent burnout—they build stronger, more connected, and sustainable teams. According to us empathy isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic one.

According to a survey by Fortune, about 82% of employees say that they experience burnout. As organisations aim to create a healthy work culture, identifying and addressing burnout has become an important step for leadership.

Indiatoday.in spoke with Unmesh Mayekar, Head – Human Resources Development, Oberoi Realty to get more insights.

To emphasize and reemphasize this we conduct“People First” workshop series that spans across all levels of the organization, focused on upskilling our teams in building a more empathetic and emotionally intelligent workplace.

These workshops equip leaders and People Managersinenhancing leadership effectiveness by with empathy building skills such as supportive listening, mindfulness and self-awareness, and open communication.Furthermore, this workshops also helps individuals to foster stronger connections, build trust, and create a more empathetic and inclusive workplace culture.Our guiding mantra throughout this journey is simple yet powerful: Walk a Mile in Another’s Shoes. This inspires deeper connection, compassion, and collaboration across our teams.

Recognising emotional fatigue in employees

Emotional fatigue is a silent yet serious consequence of prolonged stress—one that can leave employees feeling mentally drained, disconnected, and at risk of deeper burnout. When emotional fatigue sets in, it doesn’t just impact mental health—it affects engagement, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.

In India, burnout is increasingly prevalent across industries, making it essential to recognize and respond to it with care.According to a study by the one of the digital healthcare platformand the CII, around 62% of Indian employees experience burnout due to work-related stress and poor work-life balance.

It can be physical, shaped by lifestyle habits and energy levels; emotional, influenced by feelings and resilience; mental, driven by thoughts, focus, and cognitive load; relational, impacted by the quality of our connections; and spiritual, rooted in our sense of purpose and meaning. By acknowledging these layers, we strive to support our people not just as professionals, but as whole individuals. Our commitment to wellbeing is about creating space for empathy, understanding, and renewal—ensuring every employee feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Some of the signs of emotional fatigue every leader should watch-out for are:

Quiet quitting: Employees may stop participating actively in meetings, avoid contributing ideas, and show little interest in new initiatives. This subtle withdrawal is often the first sign of emotional fatigue.

Decline in Work Quality and Productivity:A noticeable drop in output, increased mistakes, or doing only the bare minimum can indicate that an employee is mentally checking out, even if they’re still physically present.
Withdrawal from Team Activities: Avoiding team-building events, skipping informal gatherings, or declining collaboration opportunities may signal emotional detachment and a desire to distance from the workplace environment.
Lack of Initiative: Employees may stop taking proactive steps, avoid problem-solving, and show no interest in growth opportunities—reflecting a deeper disengagement and emotional exhaustion.

Why leaders need to pay attention:

Emotional fatigue and burnout are not just personal struggles—they are shared challenges that impact the collective wellbeing of our teams. When employees feel emotionally drained, it affects their engagement, creativity, and collaboration. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to recognise these signs early and respond with empathy and care.
Through appreciative leadership and empathetic practices, we build trust, foster open dialogue, and empower our people to thrive as whole individuals within a connected and caring workplace.
Few approaches that can help combat burnout and promote a healthier, more resilient work environment are below:

Practice Empathetic Leadership: Empathetic leaders take time to understand individual challenges, offer support, and respond with compassion. It is critical for leaders to take time to understand the unique challenges their team members face.

Foster Psychological Safety and Open Communication: Leaders can create psychologically safe environments by encouraging honest conversations, actively listening without judgment, and validating employee experiences. When people feel safe to express their concerns and emotions, it reduces the emotional burden and builds stronger, more connected teams.

Promote Work-Life Balance and Flexibility:Burnout often stems from prolonged imbalance. Supporting flexible work arrangements, encouraging regular breaks, and respecting personal time are essential. Leaders should model healthy boundaries themselves and empower teams to prioritise wellbeing alongside performance. This not only prevents fatigue but also enhances long-term productivity and satisfaction.

Provide Access to Holistic Wellness Resources:Supporting wellbeing means offering tools that address the full spectrum of health—mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual. This can include counselling services, mindfulness programs, fitness initiatives, and stress management workshops. Making these resources accessible and visible sends a clear message that the organisation caresabout employees as whole individuals.

Preventing burnout is possible but the solution must start from the top. A leader should go beyond meeting tasks and managing deadlines to create a workplace where well-being and performance go hand-in-hand.

By tuning into the emotional rhythms of their teams, leaders can intervene before fatigue turns into burnout. Organizations that prioritize people alongside performance are the ones that truly thrive.

After all, a healthy workplace where leaders prioritise well-being can only build high-performing people that thrive for years without feeling burned out. When we lead with empathy, we create space for high performance that’s not just sustainable, but human. And that’s the foundation of a truly thriving workplace.

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