The idea of workplace “burnout” first emerged in the 1970’s when Herbert Freudenberger defined it as “to fail, to wear out, or become exhausted by making excessive demands on energy, strength or resources”. Symptoms of burnout continue to manifest themselves today and have various impacts on the individual and the organization. The meaning of burnout has evolved to include the following definitions: emotional and physical exhaustion, loss of motivation, cynicism or depersonalization toward the world around you and loss of personal confidence. To avoid workplace burnout, it is essential for employees to develop the skills, strategies and habits necessary to address their personal health and happiness every day.
We find ourselves battling burnout when our efforts do not match expectations or desired outcomes. Research finds that the most committed and hardest workers are those that tend to burnout the most (Pines 1986). What’s more, those experiencing burnout conceal it from coworkers and employers in order to maintain the appearance of composure while performing at a high level.
It is important to note that living with burnout, in the short or long term, can result in massive health consequences. Prolonged high levels of stress have been linked to anxiety, depression, heart disease, insomnia, weight gain, digestive issues, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Poor mental or physical health because of workplace burnout can have a detrimental domino effect, limiting our life and happiness outside of work.
Organizations, from top to bottom, are also feeling the impact. We know that an exhausted workforce does not perform at their best. When battling burnout, employees not only lose their motivation to complete assignments but their overall commitment to the mission of the organization diminishes as well. Absenteeism and presenteeism begin to rise and productivity decreases.
The solution to organizational burnout is workforce stamina training. Stamina training will include strategies to address health (a state of being pain free and in a desired physical condition) and happiness (feeling of satisfaction, joy, and contentment). Once employees are empowered with the tools to gauge and improve their own health and happiness, individual burnout and its organizational impacts can be mitigated.
Life is a series of sprints with (hopefully) periods of recovery in between. Healthy and happy top performers train to maintain their stamina and avoid burnout. Training is a must to endure the demands of life, both at work and at home. Goal setting, habit development, and behavior change are all crucial components of stamina development. Learn more about this specific training process, The Stamina ProtocolTM, and what it can do for your organization CLICK HERE: The Stamina Protocol DBLD.
We dedicate time and thorough training to the onboarding process in our organizations. We train our leaders and sales executes how to be more successful and achieve desired results. We hire coaches for our top performers, encouraging them to grow. This same training and coaching is required to develop competencies around maintaining stamina. To ensure the longevity and success of the employees in your organization, give them the tools and resources they need to lead a life that is healthy and happy.
Natalie Peterson is an emerging leader in the field health & wellness and is the creator of The Stamina ProtocolTM, Stamina to Care and Fuel & Fit – Habits for Life. She helps successful people get even better by addressing areas of their life that tend to be neglected – Fitness, Nutrition, Recovery, Mindset and Relationships.
Natalie has 13 years’ experience in organizational development and human skills training. Natalie holds a Master Trainer Certification in Situational Leadership®, The Leader’s Protocol®, The Service Protocol® and Forte Communication. Natalie has traveled all over the United States and Latin America implementing leadership curriculum’s into organizations, across every industry, from healthcare, to retail and global call centers. She has a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a certification as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, & a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification.
