I was the first one in and last one out but that was never acknowledged. My boss is one of the most difficult people I have ever come across; critical, demanding, rarely complimentary and mostly in a bad mood.
I used to love my job but now I just feel like my role really isn’t important, like as if anyone could fill it. I have to force myself to wake up in the morning and the drive to work feels like a daily punishment for a crime I didn’t commit.’ — Steven – marketing executive, 37
There are many people who can identify with what Steven describes, perhaps too many. Research now suggests there is a correlation between certain personality types and style of stress management, such the infamous Type A personality profile who have a long association with what is commonly referred to as workplace burnout. The term was first coined in 1974 by H. Freudenberger who defines workplace burnout as “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”
Type A personalities often exhibit the following behaviours:
• Impatience and urgency regarding time
• Hostility or aggressiveness
• Always in a hurry
• Does not allow others to finish their sentences
• Goal-based approach
• Competitiveness
• Critical
• Holds feelings in
• Reluctance to delegate
In the quest for achievement and fulfillment of aspirations, Type As are usually workaholics whose desire for performance and results is not hampered by physical and psychological consequences. Nor do they ever fully feel satisfied with the work they complete which is a condition referred to as a neurotic perfectionism.
“I’ve had a number of periods of burnout in my life”, says Mike, 34, Type A and on medication since his 20s to control high blood pressure. “The most recent was when I was working on a bid, we had a deadline and it got to 18- or 20- hour days in the end. By the time the bid was handed in, I was drained beyond words. We won, but it took me several months before I recovered and was able to concentrate on my more mundane day job again. On reflection it wasn’t worth it, but I can’t help but feel I was born to work that way!”
Mike’s experience is not atypical. Workplace burnout is more common than one may think. It has multi-fold effects, impacting family life, relationships, productivity, and may increase absenteeism from the workplace. Often sufferers require an extended leave of absence in order to recover from the repercussions of this.
Symptoms of workplace burnout have both a physiological and psychological component and these may include:
• Feeling mildly depressed and not enjoying work anymore
• Irritability or impatience with colleagues
• Lack of satisfaction from the job
• Feelings of disillusionment
• Cynicism
• Irritability
• Feeling out of control
• Pessimism
• High blood pressure or cholesterol
• General sadness or anxiety
• Headache, backache or other physical complaints
• Changes in sleep and appetite
Sadly, in this day and age, it almost seems like it is a pre-requisite for most employers to hire Type A personalities due to the increasing demands, competition and job pressures. Arguably, one would have to be aggressive, competitive, goal-oriented and even ruthless when required, basically a Type A personality, in order to land a job or stay afloat in many professional domains.
As time passes, however, increasing job pressures start to take their toll, and even our Type As would, at some point in their careers, suffer from workplace burnout, creating a catch-22 situation. What drives them will eventually shut them down.
It is vital that if you’re sensing some symptoms of burnout you need to begin re-evaluating your daily routine and try and use some of the following strategies to find some relief:
• Slow down
• Get support
• Improve time management skills
• Re-evaluate goals and priorities
• Become more self-aware
• Learn ways of balancing life and work
• Learn how to better manage stress and anger
It would be a good idea to take some time off work and seek professional help if afflicted by the more serious symptoms of job exhaustion since burnout can have long-term negative effects on one’s well-being and future career opportunities.
There is no reason why you can’t be highly motivated, driven and ambitious while also conscientious of your health and limitations. If necessary, there are treatment programs for people suffering from burnout and these can help individuals put their lives into better perspective in order to give them the tools they need to live a healthier and more productive life.
No comments:
Post a Comment