Is Your Enthusiasm For Work Flickering Out? Re-ignite the Flame!
by Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Are your workforce teams under so much pressure that they are erupting like volcanoes? Do you see the people around you turning into pessimists? Are they waiting for the overwhelming situations to just go away? If so, please read on.
Most things written about burnout are negative. Yes...the price for doing what you feel passionate about is burnout. Burnout is also a time for deep reflection to make major changes at home, work, so you can achieve personal satisfaction. People who pay attention to their burnout discover new ways to re-ignite their flame. They design a better quality of life. They harness burnout and refocus their energy toward more productive behavior.
This article covers the definition of burnout, its warning signs, hot tips to keep the flame of energy ablaze, and ideas for all professionals to use in order to rekindle their vitality.
Definition of Burnout
Burnout occurs when its victims have been worn out physically and emotionally as a result of long term stress. They strive to reach unrealistic expectations many of which may be self imposed Burned out people are of little value to the organization. For this reason alone, it is important to discover the signs of burnout and to resolve the issues that cause them. Burnout is a general erosion of the spirit.
WARNING SIGNS: WATCH FOR SMOKE SIGNALS
Today's workplace environment is a perfect place for burnout to occur. We are all too familiar with downsizing, doing more with less, mergers, new teams, new bosses, new philosophies, new mission statements, distrustful relationships, unclear work roles, thwarted career progress, un-shared information, no existing feedback, unfair politics, and not being able to catch up with the workload, similar to being on a treadmill and not able to get off.
Many workshop participants have shared their experiences with me. They started out full of compassion, enthusiasm and energy. They actually looked forward to work. Then something happened along their journey...they lost their sense of control and interest, became bored, and started withdrawing. They became all too familiar with the expression "all work and no play". Remember the old adage, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
Their positive attitudes started to diminish and they became more cynical.
I could go on but by now you may be thinking, "Joyce I am familiar with this...please tell me something that will help me get out of this feeling of powerlessness?" During our research, workshop participants ask us to give them some techniques that they can use immediately, and not to concentrate on our "woe-is-me state." We know that morale must be improved. We know that workers have lost their sense of control and feeling of joy at work, which carries over to their home lives. They beg us to show them how they can lighten up and learn from all of this.
Next Page >>
Definition of a Burnout
Story of a farmer
10 tips to keep the flame burning
Conclusion
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