Burnout leads to cynicism, decreased productivity, and general unhappiness. Burnout has been defined many ways. Burnout can also be described as occurring in stages. The first stage involves an imbalance between resources and demands. The second stage consists of immediate, short-term emotional tension, fatigue, and exhaustion.
Some jobs are more prone to burnout than others.
When performance expectations and roles are unclear, the risk of burnout increases. High case loads are another contributing factor, as are lack of autonomy, inadequate feedback, monotony, lack of participation in decision-making, and lack of responsibility. Poor opportunity to use skills and poor physical work conditions have also been found to be related to burnout. Organizational factors contribute as well. These include bureaucratic organizations and emotionally demanding relationships with clients.