One thing you rarely hear from a high achiever is, “That’s not in my job description.” That’s because, for them, pretty much anything can be included in their job description – and frequently is! This seemingly endless job description and overload are two of the more narrowly defined, workplace-related causes of high achievers burnout (which we discussed in a previous post).

While we all tend to take for granted that the wellbeing of workers is a priority for the leadership of businesses and organizations, such is often not the case for high achievers. Instead, such folks tend to be overloaded with work, pack several job descriptions into one, and are frequently taken for granted. Further, they regularly suffer from a lack of adequate support.

When these stressors reach their zenith, a weird cycle is created. On the one hand, the leadership of virtually every business and organization claims to value high achievers and wants them on their payroll. On the other, because they are not treated with extreme care, they burn out and leave.

Stress, Overload, and Burnout

Ironically, as our economy has become more service-based and people-oriented, those who most commonly reach for excellence in the workplace tend to be least appreciated. This lack of concern for their wellbeing in the workplace almost inevitably leads to the “three dimensions of burnout: exhaustion at work, cynicism toward the meaning of work, and sense of inadequacy at work”, as described in the nine-item Bergen Burnout Inventory. (emphasis added)

As the research further indicates, education, healthcare, and mental care workers are the most frequent victims of this type of stress and burnout. “Within such occupations, the prevailing norms are to be selfless and put others’ needs first; to work long hours and do whatever it takes to help a client or patient or student; to go the extra mile and to give one’s all.” (NIH Report)

The tendency to put the needs of others to their own physical, mental, and emotional detriment is a key characteristic of high achievers. The sort of one-for-all mindset, without the all-for-one response from coworkers, is a personality trait that must be constrained for the “movers and shakers” among us to avoid or overcome burnout.

3 Choices for the Overworked and Underappreciated

There are essentially three approaches one can take when feeling overworked and underappreciated:

• Acceptance – While it is not generally acceptable for high achievers to simply “grin and bear it” when the workplace is unhealthy or even hostile, there may be times when it seems like that is their only choice. This is rarely the case however and, while it may be intimidating to contemplate, working to change things or moving on will likely be a better option.
• Transformation – Being a change agent comes naturally to those with the mindset of a high achiever. When they see that something is not right in the workplace, they will work to transform their environment for the betterment of all, as well as for the overall health of the organization. If management refuses to see the value in the proposed changes, however, moving on may be the only alternative.
• Getting out – It makes no sense to remain in an unhealthy or hostile workplace for those who prioritize excellence. Accepting lowered standards of achievement is anathema to them and remaining in a workplace culture where management denies the need to make changes will eventually become intolerable. Once these realizations hit home, the best and only choice is to get out.

Perhaps chief among the causes of burnout for a high achiever is the hesitation to act for their own benefit. Too often, familiarity takes precedence over self-care. It’s not at all unusual for an individual to stay in a workplace (or relationship) that is unhealthy simply because they’re accustomed to it. The challenge then is to overcome that mindset and give Self a place of prominence in one’s hierarchy of needs and move forward toward a healthier, more rewarding environment.

Then again, knowing and doing can be scary. It’s okay to ask for help. If you’re experiencing high achievers burnout due to a workplace that does not appreciate you yet continues to demand more from you, I can help. Feel free to contact me for the answers you seek.