Harvard Business Review Press. - HBR guide to beating burnout

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Harvard Business Review Press.

Title: HBR guide to beating burnout.

Other titles: Harvard Business Review guide to beating burnout | Harvard business review guides.

Description: Boston, Massachusetts : Harvard Business Review Press, [2020] | Series: HBR guides | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020026107 (print) | LCCN 2020026108 (ebook) | ISBN 9781647820008 (paperback) | ISBN 9781647820015 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Burn out (Psychology) | Leadership. | Industrial management.

Classification: LCC BF481.H398 2020 (print) | LCC BF481 (ebook) | DDC 158.7/23dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020026107

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020026108

ISBN: 978-1-64782-000-8

eISBN: 978-1-64782-001-5

The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives Z39.48-1992.

Its a fact of professional life that youll need to deal with stress and overwork, but we can handle only so much of each before we risk burning out. The personal and professional consequences of burnout are debilitating: You feel as if youre in a fog of exhaustion, negativity, and ineffectiveness. You feel disillusioned with your job, and your productivity slows to a crawl. Your work, home life, and health all suffer.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and recover from burnout. This book will help you under stand the causes and risk factors, how to protect yourself and your team, and what you should do now if youre already suffering from burnout.

One of the most common myths about burnout is that its a work-life balance problem, not a workplace problem. But we shouldnt try to take on burnout by ourselves; real change needs to happen at the team and organizational levels. No matter your role in your company, you can make a difference. Set reasonable and healthy expectations for yourself and others. Be aware of signs of burnout in your employees and coworkers. Design jobs and make hires that will push back against burnout culture. Together with your colleagues, you can combat burnout and make your workplace more psychologically safe and productive.

This guide contains practical tips and advice to help you and your team navigate the perils of workplace burnout. Youll learn how to:

• Assess your level of risk
• Distinguish between stress and burnout
• Recognize the symptoms in yourself and others
• Mitigate the effects of always-on culture when working at home
• Understand how passion can lead to burnout
• Return to healthy engagement
• Know when you need to leave your job
• Prevent burnout on your teameven if youre burned out
• Protect your high performers from burning out
• Assess and measure levels of burnout in your organization
• Contribute to a happier, healthier workplace of the future

It's a workplace problem, not a work-life balance problem.

BY JENNIFER MOSS

Know the warning signs and take action.

BY STEVEN DSOUZA

Consider which factors are the greatest risk for you.

BY ELIZABETH GRACE SAUNDERS

What to do when working less isnt an option.

BY ALICE BOYES

The risk is high when work life and personal life blur.

BY LAURA M. GIURGE AND VANESSA K. BOHNS

Empathy has powerful stress-fighting powers.

BY ANNIE MCKEE AND KANDI WIENS

Ways to stay helpful while avoiding overload.

BY ROB CROSS, SCOTT TAYLOR, AND DEB ZEHNER

Steps you can take once youre aware of the symptoms.

BY MONIQUE VALCOUR

Theyre at higher risk, and its getting worse.

BY ELLEN KEITHLINE BYRNE

Its not always burnout when youre exhausted by work.

BY REBECCA KNIGHT

Take positive action to break out of the victim mindset.

BY ELIZABETH GRACE SAUNDERS

Shift from energized to energizing.

BY MERETE WEDELL-WEDELLSBORG

Designing your own role will lead to a more meaningful experience at work.

BY JENNIFER MOSS

Is it hurting your health, career prospects, or relationships?

BY MONIQUE VALCOUR