[Good news and Bad news joke]

Bad News: If you care deeply and work hard, you are at risk for burnout.

Good News: You can beat it for yourself, your workgroup, and your family.

Since the 1980s research has been done on burnout - with an emphasis on those in the human services fields, like HR.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory looks at three particular factors.

Note - Burnout is not "on" or "off" but a spectrum (think of a 10-point scale), involving all three of these factors.

Emotional Exhaustion might exhibit itself as waking up and still feeling exhausted, or feeling like you are at the end of your rope.

Emotional Exhaustion by itself is not burnout, but more about being "overextended."

How have you seen this exhibited at work?

How would you describe the opposite of this on a 10 point scale?

Think of this as withdrawing from people. An inability to connect or constant cynicism. Often it follows directly from emotional exhaustion.

Thin of this as being "disengaged."

How have you seen this exhibited at work?

How would you describe the opposite of this on a 10 point scale?

This is about your sense of effectiveness at work. It can be tied to how much control you feel that you have in your work situation.

If a person is only struggling with accomplishment, then they are dealing with "effectiveness," but when all three factors are present in a high amount, we have burnout.

How have you seen this exhibited at work?

How would you describe the opposite of this on a 10 point scale?

Next, let's talk about what can impact these three factors at work, and consider how work policies can either contribute to burnout or contribute to engaged employees.

This list shows us two sets of conditions that impact burnout at work - both the personal conditions and the workplace conditions.

What workplace policies can you think of that contribute to these workplace conditions in particular?

When I do coaching work, I describe myself as a sherpa who helps lead people to a mountaintop where they can get a clearer view of things. Let's apply that metaphor to our time together today.

What's clearer to you now than before today's meeting?

To continue my work as a "sherpa," I can take you up to that mountain top, but I can't just leave you there. So, let's talk about how we can return to our workplaces and apply these insights. How does today's session influence the way you analyze workplace policies and procedures?

What opportunities do you see for making changes?