Reader Reviews of Jennifer’s Book About Burnout
This book is insightful, well written, 'human' and engaging. It doesn't just deliver 'what's wrong in an organization' but delivers ways to fix it. It shows how you can change your own behavior but also how that positively affects your teams and employees. A number of things covered are things I knew 'instinctively' but had never put into words, because showing empathy, fallibility, vulnerability, gets beaten out of us in typical professional life. There were other areas and considerations on this kind of organizational behavior I had never even considered!! If you are a business leader, executive, manager, HR manager, and you know something could 'be better' with your teams and workforce, this is a Must-Read.
I thought this book would be helpful as a leader professionally, but found myself identifying with so
many of Jen Moss' points as a parent and personally as well. This book illuminated many stressors in my life that I doubt I would have identified on my own... but that would certainly have had a negative impact on me in the future. An easy read that is filled with storytelling, and leaves you feeling empowered and enlightened with each new chapter. I bought a box full to share with friends and co-workers.
In her Introduction, Jennifer Moss refers to the earliest recorded reference in 1599 to burnout in a stanza within the seventh of 20 poems that comprise William Shakespeare's The Passionate Pilgrim: "She burned out love, as soon as straw outburneth." Fire illuminates and provides warmth but it can also consume. The same is true of stress. If managed properly, it can guide and inform effort that is creative, focused, and positive.
If you doubt there is a global burnout epidemic, consider these facts from research conducted among thousands of respondents in 46 countries:
> 62% of those struggling to manage their workloads had experienced burnout often" or "extremely often" recently.
> 57% of employees felt that the COVID pandemic had "a large effect on" or "completely dominated" their work.
> 55% of all respondents didn't feel that they had been able to balance their home and life work -- with 53% specifically citing homeschooling as the reason.
> 25% felt unable to maintain a strong connection with family, 39% with colleagues, and 50% with friends.
> Only 21% rated their well-being as "good," and a mere two percent rated it as "excellent."
As her "Notes" correctly indicate, Moss includes a wealth of secondary sources in their research. Their authors share the results of their own research. This collective contribution to thought leadership can enable those who read The Burnout Epidemic to gain significant advantages when competing in a business world that's more volatile, more uncertain, more complex, and more ambiguous than at any prior time that I can recall.
Two major benefits are worthy of special attention now. First, the material helps to prepare leaders in all organizations -- whatever their size and nature may be -- to avoid or recover from their own burnout; also, the material can prepare them to help others to do so. I agree with Moss
These are among the other passages of greatest interest and value to me, also listed to suggest the scope of Moss's coverage:
o Burnout (Pages 4-8 and 17-68)
o Organizational hygiene (18-20)
o Workload issues (22-23, 25-28, and 106-107)
o Mental health (28-31)
o Lack or recognition (40-48)
o Unfair treatment (58-61)
o Health care professionals (77-88)
o Burnout issues: Teachers (89-93 and 93-101)
o Well-being (158-163)
o Good intentions (111-113, 125-132, and 132-138)
o Perks and benefits (113-119)
o Paid time off (119-125)
o Role modeling (122-123 and 160-161)
o Curiosity and leaders (167-185)
o Empathy in leaders (187-211)
o Grief in the workplace (189-194)
o Trust and empathy (203-207)
o Self-care for leaders (213-234)
o meaning in work (214-219)
o Well being: leaders (220-226)
The Burnout Epidemic is a "must read" for all C-level executives and especially for other supervisors who also have direct reports entrusted to their care. They share primary responsibility for establishing and then nourishing (as well as protecting) a workplace culture within which there is little -- if any -- burnout or early-warning indications of it. Companies annually ranked among those most highly regarded and best to work for are also annually ranked among those most profitable and having the greatest cap value in their industry segment. However different these companies may be in most respects, all of them have a workplace culture within which empathy. compassion, and civility as well as mutual respect and trust are most likely to thrive.
In this brilliant book, Jennifer Moss thoroughly explains HOW to do that. Bravo!
The information was helpful and relevant, to the point that I'm trying to figure out how to send a copy to our CEO without potentially offending them. She writes in a conversational tone with such openness that you end the book feeling like you could call her up for a cup of tea and a chat. Thank you, Jennifer, for writing a book that spoke to my needs.
This book is amazing and offers so many great examples of how we as managers and leaders can motivate our direct reports and teams. I've learned so much from reading this book and am now implementing many of her suggestions into my own team oversight and management style. I would highly recommend!!
— Amazon Verified Reader
It’s time to address the burnout epidemic – personally and in your role, as a leader. This book fuels a conversation to inspire re-thinking wellness programs, leadership check-ins, and what organizations can do to prevent burnout and build strategies to support self-care, resilience, open communication, and innovation.
Read the last chapter first: Take Care of Yourself Too.
— Amazon Verified Reader
Love how well the author explains Masalach burnout and then breaks down steps to buckle in for life’s ride. The info graphics alone are worth the purchase. I bought it on Kindle the other week, am half-way through and am supplementing with the hard copy as this book will be a long used guide for me. If doing ok enough that you can read a book on burnout, do get this.
— Amazon Verified Reader