Leadership Behavior and Burnout

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Leadership Behavior and Burnout

• HOW TO BEAT THE COWERING INFERNO

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Burnout and the HPERS Teacher

• In your first year there was energy to overcome
  it

By your fifth year You pace yourself To avoid it
As an old pro you thrive in spite of it
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BURNOUT

• Responsible for
• A. Loss of purpose in the job
• B. Destroying self-esteem
• C. Resentment
• D. Bitterness
• E. Poor Performance
• F. Critical Behavior
• G. Physical Sickness

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How to avoid Burnout

• A. Recognize the contributing factors
• and forces behind Burnout
• B. Understand its many symptoms and
• signs
• C. Implement tips for Burnout Recovery
• D. Learn how to avoid future bouts with
• Burnout

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A. Contributing Factors and Forces

• A. Are you being driven or are you being called?

Those who are being driven are prime
Candidates as BURNOUT NOMINEES or
BONS!!
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BONS are usually Workaholics
They try to solve everyones Problems and do not
delegate anything They can do themselves
Nothing can run Forever without
proper Maintenance. In the End, the novice
leader Runs out of physical And emotional energy
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BONS are Results-oriented

• They are usually impatient
• They are focused on other employees needs
• and interests
• As it takes time to see results, BONS become
  weary waiting for success
• In their eyes, critical and essential elements of
  success are obvious to all, BUT, the failure of
  others to see this obvious thing serves only to
  frustrate the BONS

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• BONS conclude that the employees or
  administrations lack of response is due to the
  BONS personal failure

The BONS grows tired of waiting for results And
admits a failure to perform
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• Nice guys finish last if their energies are
  constantly being used to light up someone elses
  scoreboard

• Try not to be bogged down by meaningless
• details

Ie. As long as I have the energy, I might
as Well do it!! OR I might as well do it b/c
it Has to be done properly.
At this point a BONS resents any infringement
Upon their daily workday.
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Rookie vs. the Pro

• Rookie relies upon young, raw emotion and lack of
  social responsibilities to push themselves to the
  limit

The Rookie relies upon holidays, summer and
yearly breaks to recover for the next semester
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The Pro has Burnout sneak up on them
One year rolls into the next With problems that
are never solved only Re-wrapped and
re-presented
Goals become less clear expectations
are Unrealistic they never changed from year To
year..the harder the BONS works the
more Frustrated they are b/c they never
reach Their goals!!!
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• Mediocre programs rob BONS of the positive
  feedback necessary for a higher level of
  motivation
• Personal zeal invested into pet programs without
  a sound base of realistic expectation almost
  assuredly leads to eventual Burnout

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• Over time, novice leaders have been forced to
  function in a fashion whereby the outcome is
  already pre-determined.
• Because BONS cannot make things happen by
  adjusting their schedule, they suffer from
  Burnouts cousinapathy.

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• With the inability to control ones own
  environment and thus ones own energy level, most
  BONS find less than adequate time for their own
  re-generation. They fail to exercise and ease
  slowly into inactivity and poor physical
  condition and healththe very thing they stand
  against!!

Is it any wonder that HPER is on the bottom Rung
of the educational ladder and is Continually the
laughing stock of education?
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Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

• If you possess a multitude of these
  characteristics

Decisive, strong-willed, determined
Self-sufficient, self-confident
Perfectionist, well-organized
Goal-oriented and highly competitive
Then you may tough it out and go way beyond
when the signs and symptoms of Burnout first
occurs
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Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

• External signs may appear like irritability,
  physical fatigue and lack of risk taking

BUT.

• Internal Symptoms which are often denied
• Include emotional exhaustion, lack of
• Objectivity in decision-making, negative
• Mental attitude, loss of courage and personal
• Identity and self-worth.

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The BONS should stop.

• He goes to his office for a late evening or
• Weekend just to do a few things

• These efforts leave the BONS further behind
• Because work is greatly increased but the
• Productivity is the same!! This stimulation leads
• To normal day-to-day pressures becoming
• Overpowering.

This leads to a persecution complex from Which
the BONS feels he is being abused..
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• The drudgery of constantly being on-guard,
  satisfying others wishes and an inability to
  manage time or human resources will eventually
  lead to physical exhaustion

Pseudo-illness can arise like chest pain,
Ulcers, colitis, constipation and
blinding headaches
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Results of Burnout

• Drained of both spirit and stamina, the
• BONS become non-supportive of new or amended
  activities, procedures and programs. They lose
  their competitive spirit.

• BONS may physically withdraw to places
• At school where they cant be easily located
• Or make themselves inaccessible in their own
• Office..

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Results of Burnout (contd)

• Problems are not confronted b/c self-confidence
  and self-worth are disrupted
• Staff and department meetings cease, the
  relationship with workers and peers becomes more
  autocratic with the BONS showing less respect
  for the administration.
• Memos replace direct interfacing
• Rumors arise and the magic of the relationships
  with peers and students disappears

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Tips for Recovery

• No amount of gut-sucking or positive attitude
  will lead to recovery.

• Use a counselor found in an EAP Bury the
• Pride and develop a double accountability

2. Do not expect a quick recovery learn to
work smart instead of work hard.
3. Do not live in a vacuum work with loved ones
and friendly co-workers
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• 4. Convey to workers that you believe in them.
• 5. Learn techniques from counselor how to bring
  out the best in others
• 6. Recovery means it is alright to mess up and
  make mistakes..problems are opportunities for
  growth and refinement
• 7. Control natural enthusiasm for a slow pace
  towards permanent change

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• 8. Watch out for preachers! Those who did lend an
  ear to the recovery process are the ones to
  hold close
• 9. Work with only one counselor at a time.

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Completing the Recovery Process

• 1. Separate yourself from the source of the
  problem

a. Rearrange office duties
b. Remove, re-assign or restructure a difficult
person
c. Change the Work Shift
d. Learn to say no to other responsibilities
e. Manage time..MBWA
f. Close the door
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Completing the Recovery Process

• g. Upgrade the efficiency of the office

h. Learn how to take criticism

• Develop the real meaning of the Service
• philosophy you want it when????

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Tips for Recovery

• 2. Learn how to Re-create
• Quiet place for hiking, biking, fishing, etc
• Take light reading material, not work
• Make a pact to relax..not problem solve
• Do not call the office or check-in
• No e-mails, fax or cell phones
• Avoid reading newspaper or watching TV
• Try something different (Hunt shark)
• Avoid talking about burnout to others on break

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Tips for Recovery

• 3. Re-establish your self-confidence
• Short term goals for satisfaction
• Establish new policies with help of peers
• Use sick days and personal days

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Tips for Recovery

• 4. Develop a New Purpose for Your Life and Your
  Job
• Learn to walk before you run
• Take on new responsibilities a slow pace
• Dont maximize the minimals
• Resolve old personal conflicts

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Tips for Recovery

• 5. Develop a Self-examination Program
• How far can one be removed from the program
  before it makes a difference
• Develop tactic that, Nothing is ever as bad as
  it first appears to be
• Entertain Feedback
• Personal philosophy You are a steward of all the
  programs..not the owner!

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• This is your next to last slide!!!!!

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Bottom Line

• Will you take responsibility for your life or
  will you be a reactionary?
• Will you learn that you are not superman or
  superwoman? You must develop a game plan.
• Will you learn to laugh it off? Is it really in
  your focus of control?
• Do you recognize what other people are really all
  about?

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• Will you realize that your family is the most
  important thing?
• Will you realize that your health is something
  that cannot be put on hold?
• Are you big enough to admit you are having
  problems and seek intervention?
• Will you include your loved ones in your
  recovery?
• Will you include all aspects of Wellness in your
  recovery?