The 12 Stages of
Burnout
Managing burnout, understanding the active and passive signs
The World Health Organisation defines burnout as this:
Burnout is a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by three dimensions:
- feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
- increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
- reduced professional efficacy.
Data from the Labour Force Survey 2022/23 indicates a significant number of cases relating to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in the UK. There were approximately 875,000 reported cases of these conditions among workers, resulting in an estimated 17.1 million days of lost productivity.
Burnout is becoming a serious threat to the welfare of teams and to the culture of the companies in which they work. One difficulty in managing burnout is knowing what to look out for; what are the signs, passive and active, of burnout and when does stress become more serious?
There are 12 stages of burnout as identified through the work of psychologists Gail North and Herbert Freudenberger. Let’s talk through each of those 12 stages of burnout so you’ll know what to look for in yourself, your teams and those around you. We share our guide to burnout prevention and recovery aligned with the 12 stages of burnout.
Please note: Burnout is a serious and crippling condition, and you do not have to go through that alone. If you’re feeling burned out or are suffering the effects of chronic stress, reach out to someone!
(keep scrolling to learn about the stages)
STAGE ONE
COMPULSION TO PROVE ONESELF
Working harder and taking on more to demonstrate your worth.
STAGE TWO
WORKING HARDER
Doubling down on work and pushing yourself.
STAGE THREE
NEGLECTING NEEDS
Skipping exercise sessions, meditation, taking breaks and so on.
Stages 1 to 3 of burnout progress from feeling compelled to prove oneself through increased workload, to doubling down on work efforts, and ultimately neglecting personal needs such as exercise, meditation, and breaks.
What can you do if this is You
- Determine what your 1-3 daily non-negotiables are for your health
- Defend your personal time as though it was an important business meeting
- Make a list of things you do well to bring balance to your sense of self-worth
What you can do if this is your team member
- Give praise and measured feedback to the person
- Role model the behaviours you wish to see in them
- Gently explain that self-care is an important part of their personal development
STAGE FOUR
DISPLACEMENT OF CONFLICT
Blaming others or your situation for your problems, including your stress levels.
STAGE FIVE
REVISION OF VALUES
Work becomes your main priority to the detriment of friends and family.
STAGE SIX
DENIAL OF EMERGING PROBLEMS
Blaming others, avoiding responsibility, denial.
Stages 4 to 6 of burnout involve displacing conflict by blaming others or circumstances, revising values where work overrides all priorities, and denying emerging problems by shifting blame and avoiding responsibility.
What can you do if this is You
- Reconnect with what’s important to you
- Talk to family and friends and ask them for their feedback
- Identify one thing outside of work that you can make a priority
What you can do if this is your team member
- Spend time with the individual going through their workload
- Help them to prioritise their workload and delegate if appropriate
- Coach them into understanding how taking time for themselves could improve their situation
STAGE SEVEN
WITHDRAWAL
Avoiding or dreading social interaction and possibly using alcohol or drugs to try to feel relief from stress.
STAGE EIGHT
ODD BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES
For example, impatience, aggression or uncharacteristic sadness.
STAGE NINE
DEPERSONALISATION
Low self-worth, detached from others and society, life lacks value.
Stages 7 to 9 of burnout, individuals may withdraw, avoiding social interactions, show behavioural changes such as impatience or aggression, and exhibit by low self-worth.
What can you do if this is You
- Share how you feel with a friend, colleague or HR professional
- Consider working with a coach or therapist who specialises in burnout
- Use movement, good nutrition and natural light to lift your mood
What you can do if this is your team member
- Approach them with sensitivity and empathy and let them know that you wish to help
- Encourage them to talk to a professional who can provide appropriate support
- Having the conversation during a walk or over the phone can be less intense than in person
STAGE TEN
INNER EMPTINESS
Avoiding or dreading social interaction and possibly using alcohol or drugs to try to feel relief from stress.
STAGE ELEVEN
DEPRESSION
Feeling lost and unsure, exhausted, future feels bleak and dark.
STAGE TWELVE
BURNOUT SYNDROME
A total mental and physical collapse or breakdown.
In stages 10 to 12 of burnout, individuals may feel inner emptiness, feel exhaustion and have a bleak outlook on the future, ultimately leading to burnout syndrome, a total mental and physical collapse or breakdown.
What can you do if this is You
- Seek the help of a professional immediately
- Share how you feel with a family member of someone you can trust
- Arrange for time out from work to focus on your recovery
What you can do if this is your team member
- Arrange for them to get professional help immediately
- Ask what else you can do to help
- Ensure that they can take time out of the business and that this process is handled sensitively and discretely
you can recover
Burnout is usually something that you can reverse, and you can recover from it. No matter which of the 12 stages of burnout you feel you or your team members may be at. It is our belief that by focusing on the main areas of health, you can mitigate your risk of burnout and improve your resilience. We do this by practising cadence.
The Cadence Approach
Today’s business environment is fast-paced and demanding. The ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances is a vital skill, and one which we can learn from some of the most resilient people in society – athletes. Even at the most elite level, an athlete will not expect to be operating at peak performance all year round. They will look ahead to the schedule, get ready, perform to the best of their ability and then rest. This is the Cadence Approach and it’s a simple, four-step process:
First, identify the big events coming up in your professional and personal life; then prepare by making small improvements in sleep, mental health and energy; complete the task or event, and then allow your nervous system to recover by prioritising slivers of recovery into the day.
Cadence is the key to high performance
Cadence is about managing energy and minimising the risk of chronic stress and burnout. Find out more exploring our website or check out the bestselling mini-book Cadence on Amazon or follow Leanne for tips and advice on social media at @leannespencerkeynote.
You can download the infographic about the 12 stages of burnout below.
About Leanne Spencer
About my Keynotes:
The Cadence Approach: the secret to beating burnout and performing in life and work
My keynote will show your teams how to beat burnout and have more fun by introducing cadence into their daily lives. Cadence is about managing energy. Identify the big events coming up in your personal and professional life; prepare yourself by making 1% improvements in sleep, mental health and energy; complete the task or event; allow your nervous system to recover by prioritising slivers of recovery into the day.
BOND: the importance of social relationships in the age of AI
Social connections and a sense of belonging play a pivotal role in promoting human health and overall wellbeing; by fostering social connections and a sense of belonging, we not only enhance our mental and emotional wellbeing but also strengthen our physical health, ultimately contributing to greater productivity and connection. Leanne’s inspiring keynote will teach your teams how to prioritise social relationships for wellbeing and performance using her unique BOND methodology.
Cadence Approach Leadership Masterclass:
The Cadence Leadership Masterclass gives your leaders the tools to manage stress and avoid burnout, whilst promoting a culture of high energy and high performance. The Masterclass uses technology and science-based solutions including a wearable tech device that measures your team’s individual stress responses across three days, providing personalised, actionable data to assist in building healthy habits.
Working with Me:
I aim to be one of the easiest speakers you’ll ever work with. I’m driven by the same objective as you – to deliver an amazing, impactful and memorable experience for your audience. To achieve this, I’ll spend time with you before the event to absorb as much information as possible about who will be there, and also understand the theme, goals, expectations and key messages of your event. I like to stay on after the keynote to spend time with audience members to take questions, sign books and spend time with people. Often this is the most valuable time for deepening the impact of the keynote.
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