By Michael Dayan, PhD RCC CCC
I have decided to share some thoughts on my readings of seminal burnout literature. In Part one of this series, I examine The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It (1997) by Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter.
The central thesis of The Truth About Burnout is that burnout is best understood as a systemic phenomenon—an indicator of an unhealthy organizational environment marked by “mismatches” between employees and their workplaces. These mismatches—in workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values—first lead to chronic stress and eventually culminate in emotional exhaustion.
Maslach and Leiter advocate for addressing burnout through systemic organizational changes. Their recommendations include redesigning job roles, enhancing communication, fostering fairness, and improving work-life balance.
While addressing organizational issues is essential, I also believe it is crucial for individuals to understand the risk factors contributing to burnout so they can guard against it. Recognizing the role of individual differences—such as personal resilience, coping mechanisms, and external life stressors—is vital in understanding how burnout is experienced.