Burnout: 7 Signs that should alert you
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:37
What are the physical and psychological symptoms of a burnout? Barbara Meyer and Bénédicte Haubold, specialists in the prevention of psychosocial risks, provide us with some answers.
Burnout is a process rather than a state, and its evolution is very slow. Meyer and Haubold outline the main indicators in the slideshow above.
They also identify four very different phases of a burnout. While these phases may vary between individuals and over time, and depend partly on the work realized and the hierarchical relationship, they remain pretty constant.
PHASE 1: PLEASURE AT WORK
Professional satisfaction, strong implication, constant commitment, acceptance of the negative aspects of work and perseverance in the undertaken tasks: this is when the employee has the desire to be precisely rewarded for their efforts.
PHASE 2: OVER-COMMITMENT
Motivation and satisfaction remain strong. However, work increasingly invades the employee’s personal space; consequently, they assign less importance to their personal needs, such as sporting activities, outings with friends or regular leisure activities. Working hours are increasingly extended, but signs of physical tiredness are ignored or minimized by the employee.
PHASE 3: FRANTIC DOGGEDNESS
Work pleasure fades gradually in the face of accumulating work. Symmetrically, anxiety increases, self-respect decreases little by little, and the employee will demonstrate less empathy than before. Negative signs appear (criticising management, verbal attacks on colleagues, and so on); thus, the signs of over-commitment become obvious, including in the employee’s private life.
PHASE 4: COLLAPSE
The collapse is the final phase of this long process, and follows the neglecting of work tasks. This phenomenon can be likened to a plane hitting an air pocket. The employee breaks down by losing the ability to take initiative. The cynicism can then yield to violence.
Fabienne Broucaret
