Terri Bogue - Extinguish Burnout: A Practical Guide to Prevention and Recovery

Copyright 2019 Robert and Terri Bogue. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Bogue, Robert, 1972- author. | Bogue, Terri, author.

Title: Extinguish burnout : a practical guide to prevention and recovery / Robert Bogue and Terri Bogue.

Description: First edition. | Alexandria, VA : Society for Human Resource Management, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019012956 (print) | LCCN 2019015233 (ebook) | ISBN 9781586446352 (pdf) | ISBN 9781586446369 (ePub) | ISBN 9781586446376 (Mobi) | ISBN 9781586446345 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Burn out (Psychology) | Job stress.

Classification: LCC BF481 (ebook) | LCC BF481 .B64 2019 (print) | DDC 158.7/23dc23

Printed in the United States of America

FIRST EDITION

PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

61.19504

We dedicate Extinguish Burnout: A Practical Guide to Prevention and Recovery to our families.

Terri didnt get the benefit of knowing her father, Fritz, for long, but he left her with a lasting connection. The stories and memories of Fritz fused into a guardian angel that she could depend on throughout her life, except when swinging on the monkey bars. Terris mom, Carol, carried the burden of both parents and became Terris biggest fan (until Rob came along). Carol showered Terri with unwavering love and imparted the belief that anything was possible. These beliefs empowered Terri to reach beyond her wildest dreams. Fritz and Carol provided a foundation based on love that has continued and spread beyond their lifespan.

Robs father, also named Robert, left an indelible mark on his desire to both create and understand how things work. Robs mother, Carrie, challenged and encouraged him. She cheered him on as he struggled to learn the true meaning of the lessons that both she and Robert had taught Rob. Beyond the biological truism of genetics, Rob owes much of what he is to them both.

Our history defines us, and so too do we seek to be strong examples for our children. Somehow, theyve found ways to challenge us and create new adventures that force us to continue to grow and adapt. In this struggle, the children have taught us new skills to avoid burnoutor at least the need to develop new skills to avoid burnout. We are forever grateful to our children for their love and devotion. May this book provide each of you with tools to avoid burnout and live a life full of passion and joy.

T his project started both as a direct result of our need for it and through a serendipitous nudge. With seven kids, three business lines, a patent that has been pending for two and a half years, and countless projects in various stages of stuck, we were struggling.

The news all around us was screaming out that we werent alone. Though our circumstances were unique to us, the challenge of avoiding burnout wasnt. Gallup reports that only 33 percent of employees are engaged, and about 66 percent of full-time workers experience burnout on the job. Reports say that 78 percent of physicians are sometimes, often, or always burned out (Physicians Foundation 2018). The Institute for Healthcare Improvement goes so far to say that, if burnout in healthcare were described in clinical or public health terms, it might well be considered epidemic (Perlo et al. 2017).

Organizations today are facing incredibly low employee engagement scores. By grading standards, nearly every organization is failing. However, the path from disengaged to engaged employees isnt always clear. Certainly, the annual employee surveys have data that says employees arent happy, but its not completely clear how to address it. Betterand morecommunication can help. Maybe putting free soda or snacks in the break room could help. Maybe the organization will have to put in a cafbut will that solve the problem?

In many cases, it will make it better but not solve the disengagement problem. Employees are caught in disengagement because theyre stuck in burnout. Theyre not disengaged with the organization, theyre disengaged with their careeror with life. Theyve fallen into the trap of burnout.

Burnout is a continuum, and were all somewhere on the continuum. Well teach you how to move towards less burnout and more engagement with life.

Burnout is the opposite end of the spectrum from engagement. People who are burned out are unable to be excited about their organization or what theyre doing. Its simply not possible.

The key to fixing engagement isnt a new vacation policy. The key is in removing burnout from everyone. The key is helping employees avoid and recover from burnoutwhether the burnout comes from work, home, or the community. Burnout bleeds from one area of their life into another; even if its not caused by work, the productivity impacts are felt there.

Burnout itself has been well diagnosed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and, more recently, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). However, diagnosis isnt a cure. Thats what this book is about. Rather than offering a way to diagnose burnout, we offer a set of models and skills that make it possible for you to recover from burnout yourself.