When should you involve a professional?

Below you’ll find some criteria to clarify exactly whether you should bring a professional on board in regard to an overloaded employee on your team.

A limit has been reached if …

… you repeatedly can’t switch-off your thoughts because of the same employee
for then, this person is robbing you of your resources at a time when you should actually be recharging your battery.
… you are talking to your partner about this employee again and again
then, figuratively speaking, this person is sharing your matrimonial bed.
… you are worrying about this employee
or are even afraid the person might harm him- or herself.
… you have a bad conscience
thinking you should do a lot more for this employee; surely you’re doing enough already.
… performance or work atmosphere is permanently affected
Rule of thumb: longer than 3 weeks – because even the nicest team can’t absorb output deficits much longer than this.
… you get information that actually the employee should be getting
for example, books on mental disorders. That’s not your job. Your job is keeping an eye on team performance and peace.
… you realize that you are getting angry
because the employee isn’t accepting your suggestions. Then it's no longer about the employee but about yourself, because you want to be the manager with the perfect team, etc.