By Christina Maslach, PhD Burnout is a prolonged response to chronic stress on the job. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a sense of reduced accomplishment. Engagement with work is the direct opposite of burnout.
Engagement consists of high energy, strong involvement and a sense of efficacy.
Here's how to get a quick look at where you stand on the continuum from job burnout to engagement. Burnout can result from a misfit between the individual and the job. In each area, the nature of the job is not in harmony with the nature of people, and the result is the increased exhaustion, cynicism and ineffectivenss of burnout. Use your profile on these six areas to guide your efforts to achieve a better match between you and your job. All rights reserved.