Management stress & burnout

Mangement Stress & Burnout
A research presentation developed by
A. J. Mason

Agenda
• Discuss Stress & Burnout
• Discuss possibilities of how they can be managed

http://www.managementbridge.com

How do you handle stress?

The stresses of project management may seem excessive
for whatever rewards the position may offer. However,
the manager who is aware of the stress inherent in the
job and knows stress management techniques can face
this challenge objectively and make it a rewarding
experience. (Kerzner, 2009, p. 292)

Questions:
• Have you ever been stressed on the job?
• What did you do to resolve/manage your stress?


Factors that make a job stressful

• Responsibility without authority
• Pressure of deadlines
• Role ambiguity
• Role conflict
• Role overload
• Crossing organizational boundaries
• Responsibility for actions of others
• Necessity to keep up with information/breakthroughs

(Kerzner, 2009)


Manifestation of stress
• Being tired
• Feeling depressed
• Being physically and emotionally exhausted
• Burned out
• Being unhappy
• Feeling trapped
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling resentful and disillusioned about people
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling rejected
• Feeling anxious (Kerzner, 2009)


Types of Stress
• Distress – the commonly known stress which has
negative implications
• Eustress – good stress derived from stimulating
circumstances or challenges Identify Risks (Berglas,
2001)
• Psychologists have demonstrated that when a person is
deprived of eustress, he/she will find alternative routes
for generating eustress or suffer intense psychological
pain (Berglas, 2001)


What is burnout?
Burnout - A state of emotional, mental, and physical
exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress
(Helpguide.org, 2010)


Causes of Burnout
• Care too deeply about the people we are serving and
suffer either a loss or those people are not considerate,
grateful, or responsive (Pines & Aronson, 1981)
• The fact that they are experiencing less attachment (for
their own protection) to clients who are quite demanding
leads to resenting the very people whom they are
supposed to be helping (Pines & Aronson, 1981)
• The hard work, resentment, helplessness, hopelessness,
being tapped, as well as guilt and shame, are continually
recycled and lead to feelings of exhaustion and malaise,
which in turn increase the feelings of resentment – and
the cycle continues (Potter, 1998; Pines & Aronson, 1981,
p. 4)


Key notes
• If they attribute the causes to characterological weakness
or inadequacy, they will take certain actions – quit the
profession, see therapy, etc (Pines & Aronson, 1981)
• If they see the cause as the situation, they will strive to
change the situation to make it more tolerable (Pines &
Aronson, 1981)
• In some cases it is in the individual fit, in vast cases it is
the situation.
• Highly skilled, highly trained professionals who almost
always perform routine tasks very well and who almost
invariably find themselves in a situation where there is
almost no one around who is both able and willing to
show appreciation for their work (Pines & Aronson, 1981,
p.6)

Key notes
• For dentists, the most successful cure of burnout is for
them to see fewer patients and spend more time with
them (Pines & Aronson, 1981).
• Meet occasionally to provide the kind of support and
professional appreciation that many people in less
isolated professions can get more easily from their
coworkers (Pines & Aronson, 1981)
• When involvement, commitment, and hard work are
rewarded by continuous success, high achievers can
sense a meaning for their work indefinitely. They
burnout when it is impossible to succeed (inadequate
authority, time, inadequate resources leads to frustration
that erodes the spirit)


Key notes
• Burnout(Physical, Emotional, Mental Exhaustion) =
High Self Expectations + High Ideals + Chronic
situational stress
• In order to burn out a person, they had to have been on
fire at one time (Pines & Aronson, 1981)


Some Tips for preventing burnout
• Start the day with a relaxing ritual
• Adopting healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits
• Set boundaries
• Take a daily break from technology
• Nourish your creative side
• Learn how to manage your stress
(Helpguide.org, 2010)


Some Tips for overcoming burnout
Regain personal power through
•(P)inpoint, (A)nalyze, (C)hange,(E)valuate
•Successfully managing stress
•Developing new skills
•Developing your social support
•Tailoring the job to fit you (or as a last resort)
•Changing jobs
•Thinking powerfully
•Developing detached concern
(Potter, 1998)


Advice for ages 30+
• Reframe your career path into something to invest in, as
one would invest in a portfolio of money-making
holdings (Berglas, 2001, p. 52)
• This portfolio is not built on advice of others but from
getting in touch with your ego ideal
▫ The totality of your wishes, dreams, goals, and of
course, ideals


How do I know what those are?
• Personality tests can help
▫ StrengthFinders (available only with the purchase of
their book)
 http://www.strengthsfinder.com/home.aspx
▫ Keirsey Temperament Sorter
 http://www.keirsey.com
▫ Myers-Briggs
 http://www.cpp-db.com
 http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm


Other tips
• Think back to the time when you thought everything was
possible.
• What did you want to do/be?
• What did you used to be excited about?


My Strengths
• Furistic
▫ Ability to create visions of what could be and use those visions as
inspiration
• Focus
▫ Ability to create a clear destination and filter activities that do not align
with the destination
• Maximizer
▫ Compelled to nurture, refine and stretch strengths towards excellence
• Learner
▫ Drawn to the process of learning; Ability to thrive in dynamic work
environments with short project assignments
• Individualization
▫ Keen observer of people's strengths; helps build productive teams


Male Career Patterns

1. Challenge
2. Authenticity
3. Balance

(Mainiero & Sullivan, 2006)


Female Career Patterns

1. Challenge
2. Balance
3. Authenticity

(Mainiero & Sullivan, 2006)


Conclusion
• Management can be a very rewarding and financially
lucrative career track
• Be aware of stress and burnout
• Most of all, be aware of your ideals and how you deal
with these factors


References
Berglas, S. Reclaiming the fire: How successful people overcome
burnout. New York, NY: Random House.
HelpGuide.com. (2010). Preventing burnout: Signs, symptoms, causes,
and coping strategies. Retrieved from
http://helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm.
Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A systems approach to
planning, scheduling, and controlling. Hoboken, New Jersey: John
Wiley & Sons.
Mainiero, L. A. & Sullivan, S. E. (2006). The Opt-out revolt: Why
people are leaving companies to create kaleidoscope careers.
Mountain View, California: Davies-Black Publishing.
Pines, A. & Aronson, E. (1991). Career Burnout: Causes and cures. NY:
Free Press.


References
Potter, B. (1998). Overcoming job burnout: How to renew enthusiasm
for work. Berkley, CA: Ronin Publishing.


Management stress & burnout

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