Burnout: The Silent Threat to Leaders

The tendency for us as leaders, is to work consistently harder and longer and with a growing independence from others. This may be a sign of coping with the inner fight to give up. A decrease in social interactions, along with too many unanticipated and unplanned negative experiences, is often associated with burnout.
Burnout, a term first used in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger, may just have been a new label for an old phenomenon. Burnout became the word to describe a serious state of exhaustion affecting our physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual health.

Authors Schaufeli, Muslach, and Martek point out that burnout is experienced more often with individuals who are highly motivated, working long periods of time, and serving in emotionally demanding jobs. Sound familiar? The seriousness of burnout involves feelings that aspects of the home, work, or the community are out of control, and may even be growing increasingly less meaningful. Are you finding any of these important aspects of your life having less important and value? Does the feeling of being constantly drained and tired describes you?

 Those in every occupation and duty – from emergency first responders to parents raising children – can experience disheartenment, anxiety, and thoughts of quitting that company that accompany burnout. Passionate, committed, and well-intentioned leaders and experiencing the effects of sleep deprivation lead to feelings of continual exhaustion and the over-all inability to cope.

According to one study, 50 percent of the work force spends more than 12 hours a day at their jobs. “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today”. - Coach John Wooden

Additional symptoms of burnout include blaming others for your personal lack of character, avoiding group social invitations, and turning to thrill-seeking behaviours like drinking, gambling, drugs, and abuse of sex. The effects of burnout on leaders have a most definite impact on our creativity, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
Burnout is the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest.

Have you experienced repeated burnouts with tension, anxiety, irritability, and anger? Taking time to reverse symptoms of burnout leads to better relationships, overall fulfillment in areas of responsibility, genuine contentment with others, and an inner or spiritual peace of mind. Are these goals you desire? As leaders, we have the task of setting the overall example for others to address burnout by taking the necessary steps to overcome it when it is evident.
Burnout is the result of too much energy output and not enough energy self-invested – Melissa Steginus

What are the additional identifiers of Burnout?

• Unclear goals

• Decreased satisfaction with efforts

• Self-doubt, withdrawn followers

• Increased workload pressure

• Lack of support

• Negative thoughts

• Less sympathy

• Emotional hurt

• A continual frustration with inabilities
  
  Helpful tips to overcoming burnout

• Take indications seriously

• Seek professional help as needed

• Take a vacation or mini retreat

• Read a book

• Revisit a hobby or start a new one

• Attend a one-day conference

• Listen to a motivational speaker on topics of interest

• Delegate some responsibilities

• Learn to say no to some new things

Burnout happens when you try to avoid being human for too long. - Michael Gungor
Life is not about winning, but finishing well.

Love and Light

DAO