Burnout and Anger Management - Part 2
Last week I expressed my views on how slowly rage at work kicks in and leads to burn out.
At Adani Institute of Digital Technology Management, lunch tables are also a place for light banters, good discussions and chats just about everything in the world.
The research oriented faculties at #aidtm brings data and references in every point of view. We continued discussions on our last week's topic there and I present to you, my opinions and the research as well on People's Burnout at workplace.
Unlike Europe or the US, India does not have statistical data on direct losses caused by people's burnout. In most Indian companies, taking people for a break, picnic, or team outings laden with free flow of liquors are looked up as taking care of burnouts.
The issue is far deeper. When the daily grind you encounter at work like constant changing priorities, deadlines, workload, being micromanaged, and collaborative teamwork actually exceed your capacity to handle them, you are at risk of burning out.
Recent research by Harvard says that burnout has three components: exhaustion (loss of energy), cynicism (loss of enthusiasm), and inefficacy (loss of self-confidence and capacity to perform), but you do not have to be experiencing all three to suffer grave consequences. For example, if you do not believe in your organisation’s core activities, leadership and culture, you are likely to feel demoralised even if you function well at work.
Microsoft performed a field study on activities of 27 computer users over a two-week period. It found that participants spent nearly 10 minutes on an average on a delay caused by interruptions, and spent on an average another 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the type of interruption) before returning to focused activity on the disrupted work. About 27% of delays in the work at hand resulted in a delay of more than two hours of time.
The loss of revenue estimated per person was $100 in one day considering $50 was cost of an hour.
In India, it is easy to calculate this kind of loss. Imagine, every day hundreds of employees wasting time in smoking for longer hours, taking unwarranted coffee breaks, apart from their water-cooler time.
Individually, how can this be handled? Looking forward to hearing from you all.
Until next week..