Work-Life Balance & Burnout Resilience Coaching Program: Program Management Guide

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

This is a structured, evidence-based 3-month coaching program designed to support employees at risk of burnout in re-establishing a sustainable work-life balance. It integrates proven psychological frameworks (Maslach Burnout Inventory, Job Demands-Resources Model) with practical coaching methodologies (GROW, Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching) to equip employees with the awareness, skills, and personalized strategies to manage energy, set boundaries, and build resilience within their specific work context.

Strategic Benefits for Employees:

• Increased Self-Awareness & Agency: Participants gain a clear, structured understanding of their personal burnout risk factors and triggers, moving from feeling overwhelmed to having a actionable map of their demands and resources.
• Practical Skill Development: Employees acquire and practice concrete, work-appropriate tools for stress recovery, time management, boundary-setting, and cognitive reframing to regain control over their daily experience.
• Sustainable Behavioral Change: The program focuses on integrating small, sustainable habits and work redesign experiments, leading to measurable improvements in work-life balance satisfaction and a reduction in burnout symptoms.
• Enhanced Communication & Support: Participants develop scripts and confidence to have constructive conversations with managers and colleagues about workload and support, fostering a more sustainable working environment.
• Long-Term Resilience Building: Employees leave with a personalized "Playbook" of strategies and a support plan, increasing their capacity to navigate future high-demand periods without reaching burnout.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Evaluation: This is a Coaching Program. The research data explicitly defines it as such, and the provided methodologies (GROW, CBC, Motivational Interviewing) are core coaching frameworks. Therefore, a supplemental mentorship layer is not required as the primary intervention is already in place. The program effectively addresses the stated goal through direct, structured coaching support.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Program to Week 1)

1. Secure Leadership Buy-in: Present the program rationale, KPIs, and benefits to HR and senior leadership to secure support and resources.
2. Define Participant Criteria & Recruitment: Use organizational wellbeing survey data or manager/self-referral to identify employees at risk. Communicate program confidentiality and voluntary nature to combat stigma.
3. Onboard Coaches: Train internal or external coaches on the program's core frameworks (MBI, JD-R, GROW) and the specific participant challenges.
4. Conduct Baseline Assessment: Administer a brief burnout and work-life balance survey (aligned with Maslach's dimensions) to all accepted participants.
5. Kick-off & Orientation: Host a group session to introduce the program, explain methodologies, set expectations, and build psychological safety among cohorts.

Tracking & Operations (Weeks 1-12)

1. Session Management: Schedule and track attendance for weekly group modules and bi-weekly 1:1 coaching sessions using the selected Coaching Software.
2. Content Delivery: Release micro-learning content (videos, worksheets) weekly via the LMS, aligned with the current program pillar.
3. Progress Monitoring: Coaches use structured session templates within the software to track participant goals, experiments, and progress against milestones.
4. Mid-Point Check-in: Conduct a brief anonymous pulse survey at the end of Month 1 to gather feedback on relevance and practicality, adjusting delivery if needed.
5. Manager Engagement (Optional): Provide managers of participants with a brief guide on how to support their employees' journey without breaching coaching confidentiality.

Success Measurement

• KPIs:
  • Individual: Pre/post change in burnout scale scores; increase in self-rated work-life balance satisfaction (1-10 scale); participant completion rate (>80% target).
  • Program: Average participant satisfaction score (target: 4.5/5); number of implemented "experiments" or new habits reported.
  • Organizational (Long-term): Track voluntary turnover and absenteeism rates for participant cohort 6 months post-program compared to a control group.
• Feedback Mechanisms:
  • End-of-program survey measuring perceived skill gain, practicality, and behavioral change.
  • Qualitative interviews with a sample of participants 1 month after program completion to assess sustainability.
  • Coach debrief sessions to identify common systemic challenges raised by participants for HR review.

4. Approved Tools List

• Coaching Software: Primary Tool. This is essential for managing the coaching lifecycle: matching coaches/coachees, scheduling bi-weekly 1:1 sessions, providing secure session note templates, tracking goal progress, and facilitating feedback. It centralizes all coaching-specific operations.
• LMS (Learning Management System): Primary Tool. Used to host and deliver the structured micro-learning content (short videos, downloadable worksheets, reflection guides) for each of the four content pillars. Allows for asynchronous learning and tracks completion of core knowledge components.
• Internal Social Network: Secondary Tool. Can be used to create a private, optional community for each participant cohort. This facilitates peer support, allows participants to share non-sensitive insights (e.g., a helpful recovery technique), and reduces feelings of isolation, addressing the stigma challenge.

5. Resource & Content Library

Training Content for Coaches

• Guide: "Integrating the JD-R Model into Coaching Conversations"
• Video Series: "Advanced Techniques in Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching for Perfectionism & Over-Responsibility"
• Worksheet: "Using the GROW Model to Structure Burnout Resilience Sessions"
• Article: "Motivational Interviewing for Ambivalent Clients: Eliciting Change Talk Around Work Boundaries"
• Protocol: "Confidentiality Guidelines and Ethical Considerations for Workplace Coaching"

Training Content for Coachees

• Micro-Video: "Stress vs. Burnout: Understanding the Difference"
• Interactive Self-Assessment: "Map Your Job Demands & Resources (JD-R)"
• Workbook: "Building Your Daily Energy & Micro-Recovery Plan"
• Worksheet Library: "Thought Record for Challenging Work Beliefs," "Boundary-Setting Script Builder," "Weekly Schedule Audit & Redesign Template"
• Guide: "Preparing for a Constructive Conversation with Your Manager About Workload"
• Template: "My Work-Life Balance Sustainability Playbook"