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A Must Have Book for Every Hard Working Individual
This is another self-help book. And, let's face it – if you're a fan of self-help literature, you've likely read enough arbitrary platitudes to last a lifetime … 7 Reasons to Feel Good, 10 Secrets of Not Feeling Bad, The 9 ½ Truths You Need to Know, etc.
So why are you considering yet another self-help book? Well, maybe you should be burned out on self-help by now – but you're not.
The fact is, we who love the self-help genre can't help but find pleasure in a book that tells us how to find more pleasure in life. And organizational consultants Peg Neuhauser, Ray Bender and Kirk Stromberg have done just that in a fun-to-read, easy-to-follow guide to staying positive through adversity.
After surveying 400 people, and conducting 70 in-depth interviews, the authors of I Should Be Burnt Out By Now So How Come I'm Not boil down their research into five main reasons why the vast majority of people seem to cope so well under difficult circumstances. Understanding these reasons can help us react more appropriately in our own pressure-filled situations.
Just the revelation that the majority of people aren't burned out is something unique about this book. Unlike a lot of personal psychology books that work their way from unhealthy individuals to healthy, this book starts with people who are functioning well.
As the authors say upfront: "There has been a great deal of talk during the past two decades about the serious problem of stress and burnout. Most of the discussion focuses on the pessimistic side … But for all the talk about burnout, the majority of people are far more resilient and skilled at surviving and thriving than [they] give themselves credit for."
The authors define burnout as:
- Inability to cope with disruptive change
- Reduced productivity, and quality of work
- Lack of happiness and satisfaction in life
How do people avoid burn out?
The authors suggest steps that aren't profound, but still ring true: being proactive, keeping things in perspective, working hard, bouncing back from defeat, and moving on from disappointment. They wend their way from the most internal perspective – possessing the right mindset – toward incorporating appropriate habits, and dealing with external relationships, including teams and work organizations.
Throughout the book, the authors excerpt engaging stories from the people they interviewed, highlighting the keys to success. At the end, they include an "Anti-Burnout Checklist" of 72 action steps to stay on track.
This book would make an excellent gift for team members, and could lead to training possibilities at a team retreat.
Peg Neuhauser is a speaker, consultant and author specializing in the areas of conflict management, organizational culture, and avoiding burnout. Her company, PCN Associates works with clients in many industries, including health care, high-tech, and finance. Ray Bender, Ph.D., is a speaker, consultant, and author who specializes in advising CIOs and other senior executives on the management aspects of information technology. Dr. Bender is also a lecturer in the management department at Texas State University and a research advisor for the CIO Group of Forrester Research. Kirk Stromberg is the managing partner of the StarCompass Group, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in organizational and individual change. Previously, he was an executive at AARP responsible for strategic planning and management of research and training operations. Neuhauser and Bender collaborated on the book, Culture.com
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