Rising above Burnout: Understanding the Problem and Finding Ways to Bounce Back
Did you know? Working in the game industry isn’t always fun and games. The people behind the games also have the same struggles as employees in other industries, including burnout. Burnout can stem from various sources, including job stress, lack of stability, and long working hours. Let’s delve deeper into this topic! What is Burnout? Burnout is a condition that arises from unmanaged stress in the workplace, affecting both employees and employers alike. When experiencing burnout, you may experience fatigue, negativity, and a decrease in job performance. You might feel physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Plus, negativity might make you feel indifferent toward your work. Burnout can also lead to decreased productivity and feelings of inadequacy when you might feel like you’re not accomplishing as much as you want to. What Factors Contribute to Burnout? Burnout is a common thing that can happen in all industries. But what are the causes? You might want to remember these major factors that can contribute to burnout! Here they are: Unfair Treatment at Work Unmanageable Workload Lack of Role Clarity Insufficient Communication and Guidance from Leaders Unrealistic Deadlines In the game industry itself, burnout isn’t limited to only big console game studios. Burnout can happen in any part of the game industry, from large studios to indie developers. One of the contributors is “crunch time,” which refers to extended work hours, often surpassing 40 hours a week, over a prolonged period. At Agate, while crunch time may occur, we have implemented preventive measures, which will be discussed later in this article. What are the Signs of Burnout? Insomnia Research indicates that prolonged stress impacts the delicate balance of the neurological and hormonal systems responsible for regulating sleep. So, when you’re not sleeping well, it can make feelings of burnout worse. Difficulty sleeping at night may be a warning sign of burnout. Physical exhaustion Feeling wiped out all the time is another big sign of burnout. It can be a common sign of burnout if you need to nap every day after work. Changes in eating habits Changes in eating habits, such as eating more or less than usual, can also indicate burnout. This can happen when you’re too busy or stressed to eat or crave more food. Stress hormones can also play a role, making you less hungry when you’re stressed and super hungry when the stress goes away. Headaches and stomachaches It is noteworthy that burnout can occur simultaneously with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, which may also lead to physical symptoms. Depression can make your muscles ache, give you stomachaches, mess with your sleep and change your appetite. Anxiety can give you headaches, make you feel sick to your stomach, and make it hard to catch your breath. How to Deal with Burnout? Contact professional help If you’re dealing with physical symptoms of burnout, it’s a good idea to check in with your regular doctor or a mental health professional to determine if it’s from stress or something else. Address the root of the problem It’s important to address the root of your problems. For example, burnout usually comes from work-related stuff. However, chronic stress can have various causes, such as financial and relationship problems. It’s important to take a step back and figure out what’s going on so you can find a way to fix it. Request better working conditions If your working condition contributes to your burnout, it’s important to address the issue by speaking with your leaders or HR team. In Agate, we offer various resources to promote a positive work atmosphere, such as free coffee and designated quiet spaces for employees to recharge and focus. Other than the various resources, leaders in Agate are also very open to discussing the working conditions. Also, there are Talent Relation functions that are ready to listen and solve our crews’ burnout issues. Ensure you have some freedom and autonomy in your job When coping with burnout, it’s important to maintain a sense of control in your work. This can include having the ability to prioritize tasks and decide which ones to tackle first, whether it’s starting with the most challenging or easiest tasks based on your preference. Having control over your job can greatly help in managing burnout. Try to make time to do what you love Concentrating on work for extended periods can be draining. That’s why taking a break and engaging in activities you enjoy are essential. It can be as simple as watching your favorite movies or spending time with your closest ones. How We Identify and Address Our Crews Burnout Burnout can have multiple causes, but it’s often the result of systemic imbalances within an organization. That’s why Agate conducts a monthly well-being and burnout checkup to determine what systemic change we need to adjust to create a better work environment for everyone. Here’s how we do it: GatherIt’s important to recognize that our employees may be experiencing increased workload and emotional stress outside of work, which can contribute to burnout. That’s why we gather data about our crews’ problems and issues through monthly well-being checkups. AddressThe data we gather will be analyzed to determine if the issues fall under professional well-being, such as workload, rewards, and benefits, or general well-being, such as team dynamics and company policies. Only by having a clear understanding of our workplace, team, and behaviors can we make meaningful changes to improve the well-being of our employees. SolveWith the data, we take steps to make adjustments such as managing workload, implementing new procedures, offering rewards, etc. We also provide opportunities for learning, team bonding, and events to improve the overall well-being of our employees. Talent’s Insight What made Agate aware of burnout? “We spend at least 1/3 of our weekdays at work interacting with each other. Many things such as issues, decisions, and discussions, can happen during the day. The interaction and daily work definitely affect crew well-being, including burnout levels.” What drove Agate to create a
DISC in the Workplace: Unlocking the Benefits of Different Strengths and Perspectives
Diversity is common in the workplace, but it can sometimes lead to conflict among the crews. It’s important to understand that everyone might act or react differently in a certain situation. You might wonder if only there’s a way to develop a greater understanding of our teammates, those we work with as colleagues, and those we manage and lead. Well, the good news is: there’s a way! Personality assessment tools like DISC can do just that. DISC is a personality assessment tool Agate uses to improve communication in the workplace, guide career decisions, and empower meaningful professional connections. What is DISC? DISC stands for the four main behavioral styles described in the DISC model: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Each person usually has a combination of these styles, but only one or two will be the most prominent. Dominance People with a preference for Dominance (D) tend to be confident and emphasize accomplishing results. They are motivated by winning, competing, and gaining success. Strengths People with D personality establish clear objectives and devise plans to attain them; they’re able to plan quickly and analyze resources and skills needed to finish something. With their drive to win and compete for success, they enjoy taking on challenges and finding solutions to overcome them. ChallengesPeople with a D personality type may become frustrated with those with a low level of ambition due to their strong desire to win and succeed. However, it’s important for them to keep in mind that goals cannot be accomplished without assistance and that they should learn to trust others to reach their goals. Patience and clarity when explaining things to those around them could help in that regard. Another challenge they need to overcome is their tendency to display sensitivity. An Example of D Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationWinning every fight PositivesBrawny, Competitive, Disciplined LikesSport, Confrontation Chad is a very competitive person who sees anyone stronger than him as a challenge. Overall, he is just a simple young man who wants something simple: to be stronger than everyone else. Maybe, he’s actually too simple to be true. Influence Those with the Influence (I) preference tend to be more open and emphasize relationships and influencing others. They tend to be enthusiastic and hopeful, making the work environment fun. If you come across someone who enjoys talking, making friends, and creating social events, they likely have a high Influence preference. StrengthsThey excel at persuading, motivating, and selling ideas to others. Additionally, they are adept at creating a pleasant environment and fostering relationships with other people. ChallengesThe I personality type may find it challenging to stay organized, requiring someone to follow them up on their responsibilities and projects. They may also have trouble concentrating for prolonged periods and should try to manage their time better and slow down their pace to listen more to other people. An Example of I Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationFollow any mood booster PositivesAttractive, Good fashion sense LikesColors, Ornaments, Love A carefree and happy-go-lucky young woman whose bubbly personality and beauty make her very well-liked. This suits her perfectly, as she also likes people and friends. Steadiness People with a preference for Steadiness (S) tend to be consistent, calm, and patient. They are people who emphasize cooperation and sincerity. What they do is driven by opportunities to help and sincere appreciation. This personality enjoys identifying and providing what others require without seeking recognition or acknowledgment. Strengths They are known for their steadiness and are calm, composed, and patient. This allows them to create a safe and welcoming work environment. People with the S personality are adept at working toward a group consensus, setting objectives, assigning duties, and valuing everyone’s input. Challenges Despite appearing to be composed and collected on the outside, S personality is quite sensitive to criticism and confrontation. They tend to struggle to express their true emotions openly. In a relationship, instead of facing conflicts, they will do whatever is necessary to maintain peace. An Example of S Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationBeing his true self PositivesKind, Resourceful, Big-hearted LikesHealing, Helping Hugo is a kind young man who believes that everyone must be true to themselves and pursue the future they wish. He is mostly a pacifist and would prefer to avoid fighting and physical confrontation. His true calling for being a hero is to help and heal people in need. Conscientiousness Those with Conscientiousness (C) personality are known for their attention to detail, accuracy, expertise, and competency. They tend to think carefully before taking any action and make it a point to do thorough research before making decisions. Despite this, they are quite guarded when it comes to their personal life, not willing to share their feelings even if it could be beneficial for them. StrengthsPeople with C personalities are known for their high standards and thoroughness in gathering and analyzing information. When it comes to decision-making, they can think ahead, plan long-term objectives, and weigh the pros and cons of a particular situation. ChallengesType C personalities often find it difficult to deal with changes and unexpected situations and interact with particularly expressive people. Though they’re known for their expertise and competency, they should keep in mind that they can obtain a better comprehension by appreciating the standpoints of others and considering them when they make their assessment. Another challenge that they need to overcome is to verbalize their feelings better. An Example of C Personality from our game, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 MotivationNot get involved with anyone else PositivesCreative, Quirky, Smart LikesMagic, Monsters, Technology Alphonse is a genius Magi whose aptitude for understanding the arcane arts is unmatched by most. He is admittedly a bit awkward and withdrawn, which, at first glance, may be viewed as a side effect of his dedication to his craft. Why do we use DISC? Conflict ManagementThe DISC assessment allows us to understand how each person
Talent Development Programs: How We Support Our Crews’ Growth in Agate
In Agate, we strive to be better at growing our crews to the next level. That’s why we support our crews’ growth by providing various Talent Development programs. Let’s take a look at our programs! Performance Management To ensure we give every crew the same treatment and chances, we uphold the system of meritocracy. Meritocracy is a system that assesses individuals based on their competency and cultural alignment. We conduct a periodic review to assess their soft skills, technical skills, and cultural alignment in the company. We aim to give crews fair rewards and feedback continuously for our crews. Leadership Review Not only for the crews, but we also conduct a review for all the leaders and managers in Agate. The reviewers consist of direct reports, peers, direct leaders, and crews from other departments working with them. Learning Materials Aligning with our core value to level up, we always strive to support our crews to improve their skills. We facilitate them by giving them access to learning materials requests across various platforms and formats. Career Path & Grade Up Session Here, crews have the right to always grow for their career path. We provide an opportunity for crews to get promoted. They can submit a grade-up request to their leaders and head departments. PDP (Personal Development Program) Agate’s leaders and mentors also get hands-on with our crews’ development. One example is when our crews need guidance or advice to track their development skills plan. Personal Development Program is a program that allows every crew to level up with guidance given by their leaders. Overall, the result of this program impacts our crews’ well-being, especially for fairness, growth, and reward. What do our leaders think about the Talent Development programs? All Talent Development programs are created from crews and for crews. We’re always open to listening to our crews’ needs in their career milestones. Our programs are created to fully support our crews’ growth and needs such as providing mentors for new crews to guide and help them. Also, we’re providing access to learning materials, so it can be easier for our crews to develop both their personal and professional skills. It’s nice to see ourselves growing along with others; I’m happy to be a part of the team that always supports others’ growth personally and professionally! The Talent Development programs help the lead to plan the development of the crew’s career potential in the future with measurable standards and expectations, as well as finding solutions for a crew whose performance can still be improved. Similarly, the leaders are graded with a 360-degree grading system to prevent subjectivity and ensure all crews, including leaders, always conform with Agate values.” Performance Management: For a company to thrive, we must ensure every crew carries their responsibility well. It’s important to acknowledge which crew performs excellently and which crews need to improve. That’s why an accurate performance management system is required. Leadership Review: The review also goes both ways for the leaders. Every crew has the right to give an evaluation to their leaders. From there, every crew can appreciate their leaders or help identify leaders that need help. This program is the starting point of the Leadership Development series in Agate. Learning Materials: Here, everyone has the same opportunity to learn. How quickly a person can develop in Agate will be primarily determined by how much effort the person puts in. We provide a variety of self-study materials according to the needs of the crew at Agate. Grade Up: Crews have the right to submit an evaluation for grade-up, so we can provide a reward that matches their abilities. In addition, if a crew is not qualified to level up, they will get clear guidance about what improvements they should make to level up. Personal Development Program: We also offer a Personal Development Program (PDP), which allows everyone to grow to be their best version. PDP is created to encourage crews to continuously improve with a more concrete target they can achieve within one to three months. Grade Up: We provide the opportunity for crews to grade up when they think they’re ready for more responsibility. This aligns with the Meritocracy system and Level Up spirit. With a Grade-Up session, the crew can request promotion without feeling ‘pushy or ambitious.’ It is a very transparent system where people are promoted based on merit. Career Path: We give crews choices to determine their career path and the skills needed to reach their career goals. This clarifies the learning process and helps the crew stay motivated to learn new skills. Leadership Review: It doesn’t matter how great the company is; it’s the leaders within that matter. If there’s a bad leader, it impacts the crews under them negatively. The system of meritocracy here doesn’t only apply to crews but also all leaders. Leadership Review helps the company to identify leaders that need improvements to be better. Performance Management: Meritocracy is a good system for fast learners and competent people. Performance Management allows the crew to showcase their capability and growth. This will help the department to identify and promote rising stars’ talent. Personal Development Program: We appreciate people who keep learning new things and push them to be more capable. The Personal Development Program allows them to showcase their growth, so we can give them the opportunity to match their aspirations. Learning Materials: Some learning materials are not accessible because they’re locked behind a paywall. Also, the paid version is sometimes far better than the free version; by providing free access to those materials, we help our crews’ learning speed significantly. All in all, our crews’ growth is our priority. With these programs, we aim to create a comfortable workplace for our crew to level up and unlock their full potential. If you’re interested in joining our team, check out the vacancy list below! VACANCY ON TALENT DEPARTMENT All DepartmentsTechTalentStudioProductionMarketing Sales & OperationDesignCorporateArt All Contract TypesRegular CrewInternship Search Position Department Contract Type Talent Manager
