How professional coaching can contribute to fight effectively and sustainably against the Burnout syndrome ?
Burnout, or syndrome of generalized exhaustion, is a phenomenon still little known, little mastered, but whose tragic consequences are present and affect more and more employees, in more and more companies. AP2V Conseils provides you here with keys of understanding on this mechanism and gives you its vision to remedy it in the world of labor in an efficient and durable way.
A "new" ill of the century
In French literature, the ill of the century refers to moral suffering, ranging from melancholy to depression. In modern language, it is often accepted that the ill of the century refers to the notion of stress, a phenomenon that has reached a scale never seen since the 80s and 90s in the world of labor, with unfortunately some sectors of activities more affected than others.
For the past ten years, several diseases and syndromes linked in a more or less direct manner to these manifestations of high-dose stress have been identified and recognized. Burnout seems to be a new manifestation caused by prolonged anxiety states and prolonged or acute stress, or both.
However, the Burnout syndrome is much more complex than a simple "over-reaction" to stress (it is neither depression nor pure stress), because of the multitude of parameters that can influence its appearance, its evolution and its gravity. It is obvious that the working conditions, the workload and the level of recognition in the work are strongly influencing parameters in this mechanics and are the responsibility of the employer.
Nevertheless one of the very important parameters in the mechanism of the burnout is the strong cognitive aspect of this one. Indeed, as stress can be, some types of personalities and thought processes present in a person can greatly increase the risk of suffering a burnout.
Professional coaching will therefore enable us to act on this cognitive aspect.
A feeling of helplessness and inevitability
As we said above, in today's business world this mechanism is still poorly understood and often people with this syndrome are only cared for once the disease is declared. In this case, the consequences for both the person and the employer are catastrophic :
Neuronal lesions, permanent professional disability, long-term sick leave are just a few examples of the most common consequences.
In most cases of burnout, there is an atmosphere of amazement, surprise, misunderstanding as this mechanism seems to happen suddenly, all at once, without warning :
"Not him, he never complained about anything!"
"Not her, she's so strong!"
etc.
Finally, the employer often seems lost and can only see that the person suffering from a burnout must be taken care of and removed from his position as soon as possible.
In fact, the burn-out process is a phenomenon with a very long kinetics (which also explains the seriousness of the consequences), it is only because the actors of the world of labor are not trained (or not enough) to detect warning signs, or all different warning signs that could show that a person is suffering from an ongoing burnout ...
The contribution of professional coaching
Professional coaching can help fight the development of a burnout syndrome in a person in two ways :
- Preventatively, before the syndrome is triggered
- Post curative, after the person has been medically assisted and cared for
Indeed, the treatment of proven burn-out cases is in the strictly medical field as the stakes, injuries and consequences can be serious.
Professional coaching before the burnout
This is a method of Burn-Out risk prevention, including the support of employees with profiles known as "at risk" such as: the person who never says no, the workaholic who does not do not count his hours, the person who flees conflicts, the person who suffers from chronic or acute stress, etc.
Through professional coaching, the person can do personal development work on topics such as self-esteem, confidence and assertiveness, stress management, difficult situations or special situations (Annual Assessment, Disciplinary Interview, etc. ), or crisis or conflict management, in all confidentiality and kindness. This work will have the main benefit of modifying the cognitive approach that this person could have towards the work, of overcoming its limits and thus developing a posture more congruent (in agreement) with what it considers to be adapted for him or her and for its environment.
Professional coaching after the burnout
Once the person is medically treated, a second phase of reconstruction is necessary. If this phase of reconstruction is not carried out in good conditions or is done incompletely, the persons may reactivate the old mechanisms thus exposing themselves to a relapse or even to a new generalized exhaustion at the time of the recovery of activity.
An adapted reconstruction very often goes through the definition of a new approach to work by identifying the mechanisms and factors that led to this burn-out. It is also a phase of personal transition, with a gradual return to the business world. Some people may also choose to change jobs. Not to mention the work of reconstruction on the personal and private sphere because the loved ones have often been harshly solicited and affected by this accident and may themselves require a work of identity and personal reconstruction.
On the other hand, it is not uncommon that after a burnout, people enter a phase of reflection and questioning existential: what have I done in my life? What is the meaning of my life ? what is important to me? who I am in reality and who I would like to be in fact ?
Professional coaching will support and help all these people in their personal and professional transition phases so that they find in themselves the resources to move forward and thus achieve their new configuration of life.
AP2V Conseils offers professional coaching assignments tailored to all your employees, regardless of their experience or position, giving them the opportunity to develop new skills in order to be more efficient in their work and to fight against certain PSRs. like burn-out.
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Author: Florent POULET, State Certified Professional Coach - Engineer - Founding President AP2V Conseils - Copyright All Rights Reserved August 2018
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