Research continues to confirm that burnout can be dealt with more effectively in its formative stages that when it is full-blown. During its formative stages the symptoms are less severe; the effects and side-effects are minor rather than major; the person is still healthy enough to take preventative measures. Early detection is, thus, crucial when it comes to prevention (think: Covid-19 Testing).
Once you are burned-out it is easier to acknowledge that you are, indeed, burned-out. On the other hand, it is quite possible that another person might well spot the early signs of burnout before you do. Why might this be so? Most of us have a focus that looks outward and hence we pay less attention to what is occurring within. The old adage, it begins in here – not out there, is true. Because we tend to be focused ‘out there’ we miss or flatly deny or dismiss that we are becoming dis-eased. We also deny or dismiss that our dis-ease will negatively impact others so we do not take the steps to protect them from our dis-ease (again, think: Covid-19).
One of the most effective early-warning systems for identifying burnout lies not in the person but in others. There is a wide range of folks who may be able to help the person recognize the signs of burning-out and then help the person become response-able rather than reactive (think: close friends, colleagues, supervisors, etc.). In addition, the person is also a potential early-warning person for another.
In helping the other, one helps one’s self. For example, by becoming aware of the other’s behavior one can learn to become more aware of one’s own behavior. In addition, demonstrating concern for the other’s well-being helps develop tap roots of trust, safety and support and thus helps ensure that the other will care for you.
‘Early Warning Systems’ not only depend upon people’s ability to discern the early warning signs of burn-out (or, for example, Covid-19) the ‘Systems’ must provide a climate and environment rooted in trust and safety so that people feel safe enough to speak up (and be listened to). Mutual safety, trust and respect are crucial tap roots that must have strong, deep roots if they are going to support folks speaking up.
Organizations can help by developing a series of scenarios including responses to each of them – a ‘scenario handbook’ if you will (our current administration was provided a ‘Pandemic Handbook’ and discarded it prior to the Covid-19 outbreak). Scenarios provide ‘symptoms’ to note and if all have access to them then no one person has to accept the burden of discerning and alerting everybody else to the fact that something is amiss (someone or someones are burning around the edges and are moving toward burning out). In-time discernment also requires the organization to embrace a ‘prevention’ posture rather than a ‘reactive’ posture. This involves discerning the elements of a Climate, Environment, Culture and Sub-Cultures that could, and/or do, contribute to burning out. Again, early detection and intervention is crucial (think: testing, wearing masks, shutting stuff down – when it came to responding to the ‘signals’ of Covid-19).
We will continue next time and I leave us with a common, after-the-fact question: ‘How come nobody told me/us that it was going to be like this?’
Searcher-Seeker 