Burnout in Software Development

Burnout in Software Development
Richard Dalton 
www.devjoy.com 
@richardadalton
Burnout in Software Development
Awareness 
Discussion 
It’s Important
Everyone
Symptoms 
Objectivity 
Action
physical or mental 
COLLAPSE 
caused by overwork 
or stress
a 
CONTINUUM 
not a 
STATE
exhaustion 
cynicism 
professional efficacy
Burnout in Software Development
fatigue 
irritability 
self criticism 
negativity 
sleep issues 
neglect health/weight 
helpless / trapped / no control 
risk taking depression
Burnout in Software Development
every day is a BAD day 
work is DULL or OVERWHELMING 
can’t make a DIFFERENCE 
self DOUBT
(maybe)
unclear / demanding EXPECTATIONS 
too many RESPONSIBILITIES 
PERFECTIONISM and CONTROL 
not enough SLEEP or RELAXATION 
sustained PRESSURE
VALUING yourself by the WORTH or 
QUALITY of your WORK
a SUSTAINED difference between the 
environment we WANT and the 
environment that EXISTS
it’s not always about LONG HOURS 
the DEATH MARCH 
ABUSIVE work practices 
work life BALANCE
it’s about ENGAGEMENT
it’s about CARING
Burnout in Software Development
“23.4% longer for those over-40 
to find work”
“13.7% pay cut for those over-40 
to change job”
Computer science graduates working 
as programmers 
after 
6 years, 57% 
15 years, 34% 
20 years, 19%
the 20 year old coder 
the 40 year old coder
major technology shifts are 
frequent and negate the benefit of 
experience
Burnout in Software Development
frustration 
vicious cycle 
procrastination 
inefficacy 
detachment 
bad luck 
arguing 
cognitive decline
Burnout in Software Development
GUILT
JEALOUSY
Burnout in Software Development
TURNOVER
Burnout in Software Development
TAKE A BREAK
FOCUS ON 
STRESS
WORK MORE
SELF MEDICATE
QUIT
Burnout in Software Development
CHANGE
TALK
Burnout in Software Development
HOBBY
RELAX
Burnout in Software Development
DETECT PROBLEMS
RETAIN STAFF
LEVERAGE 
EXPERIENCE
Burnout in Software Development
Burnout in Software Development
Burnout in Software Development
Richard Dalton 
www.devjoy.com 
@richardadalton
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Burnout in Software Development

Editor's Notes

  1. Apologise for the animation
  2. about me: Brief History, Career This is quite a personal take on Burnout, there are other perspectives I have not been diagnosed with burnout, or sought medical help
  3. Lots of reasons NOT to do this talk. - CV This is important. I was surprised by how little I knew, wrong impressions
  4. Tech Books, Target Audience Coders, Team Mates, Team Leads, Managers, Family
  5. Objectivity: Decisions/Actions based on emotion Personal Experience, not clinical, not academic
  6. This is the end result, clinical description of the endgame
  7. The further we are along the road, the greater the risk of full collapse
  8. Burnout manifests itself in 3 ways (the components of burnout)
  9. How many have you got? Stories
  10. NOW who things they have burnout?
  11. Good day - Change Job, Bad Day - Change Career Insidious - Isn’t this just part of the job?
  12. Causes can differ, we each respond differently Internal/External element to all of the causes, can be imposed from outside, but often we impose them on ourselves.
  13. Job ambiguity Is the sustained pressure of Agile a recipe for burnout? Agile seems to deliver much that it claims to eliminate
  14. The Burnout Paradox, the best immunisation is not caring about your work.
  15. The Burnout Paradox, the best immunisation is not caring about your work. Good Programmers Leave (Here’s Why) Should this have implications for hiring?
  16. Best company I ever worked for in terms of Work/Life balance, was one of the most frustrating in terms of Burnout
  17. Life is tough enough for older developers, without burnout
  18. Take with a pinch of salt
  19. The biggest difference between a 20 year old and a 40 year old is responsibilities
  20. Finding the time to reboot
  21. frustration, procrastination => Databases procrastination => Act into a feeling, every day is a struggle Burnout magnifies tasks, arguing => estimates bad luck => memory on new machine
  22. I want to read Dickens. Why don’t I?
  23. Read less Uncle Bob, more Charles Dickens
  24. Putting people on a Pedestal Grace Hopper, Colleagues, Open Source Heroes
  25. My Biggest Fear
  26. The burnout/turnover cycle
  27. Treats one symptom
  28. Treats one cause
  29. Treats one effect
  30. Treats one symptom
  31. Throw the dice, probably change nothing, risk false positive, devalue CV
  32. Change has to mean CHANGE
  33. Eureka moment, talking to Sandra The last time you were happy at work
  34. Excellent, but be careful. Have a reason Would you be better served working on something close to work? Or getting away from tech entirely? What is the real motivation? Seeking the fulfilment that work doesn’t provide? Not wanting to work on something that won’t be used. Everything worthwhile has been done (not by you)
  35. Should be an escape, a distraction. Something else to focus on.
  36. “Deliberate Relaxation” Really Relax, music, yoga, meditate, sleep, massage.
  37. Canary in the coal mine for complexity, fragility, etc. LISTEN
  38. Retain existing staff, not just those with burnout. AVOID burnout in the future Attract new staff
  39. Who thinks they have Burnout?