Recognizing Cause and Forestalling Burnout
BSHS 462
Building Community in Organizations
January 26, 2015
Instructor Sharla Hansen
Recognizing Cause and Forestalling Burnout
To quote profound words of wisdom pertaining to burnout, the Dalai Lama states, “If you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. Create long-term perspective." (Dalai Lama, 1935)
Merriam-Webster defines burnout as: “burn·out noun \ˈbərn-ˌau̇t\
: the condition of someone who has become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time : a person who suffers burnout: the time when a jet or rocket engine stops working because there is no more fuel available.” Perhaps the third definition is as viable an attribute of human burnout as the primary definition, without the fuel of motivation and personal fulfillment, we too stop working.
Individual burnout; in an article written for Forbes magazine, Lisa Gerry points out “A clear sign of burnout is when you feel tired all the time.” (Gerry, 2013)With exhaustion follows lack of motivation, cynicism, lack of concentration, a decrease in job performance, interpersonal issues at home or work, lack of personal care, obsession with work while not at work, a feeling of general dissatisfaction and potential health problems.
Cultural/Organizational burnout; Cultural burnout occurs from the pressures of maintaining empathy and commitment to persons from other cultures when realizing they may either return to their country of origin or they will never acclimate to the norms of a more recognized culture.
An organization’s culture can incite burnout. Abusive behaviors by managers or supervisors are often the impetus for cultural burnout. Harassment in the workplace and a negative environment finds the most stalwart employee experiencing burnout. Workplace bullying is another possible burnout cause, as are...