Does
Your Battery Need Recharging?
By Beverly Smallwood, PhD.
A technical support person in a pager company tells the
story of a customer call to the customer service center from a
man who repeatedly complained he was being paged by “Lucille.”
He was instructed that he would have to call her and tell her
to stop paging him.
“She don’t never leave no number, so I can’t call her
back,” he said. After three such calls, someone thought to ask
how he knew it was Lucille if she didn’t leave a number.
“She leaves her name” was the reply. After establishing
that the customer had a numeric-only pager, the light bulb
came on. “How does she spell her name?” the service rep asked.
“L-O-W C-E-L-L”
Are you operating on a low cell? Have you given ‘til it
hurts, then given some more?
In your work or personal life, are you approaching burnout,
desperately in need of a battery change?
Burnout researchers Maslach and Jackson paint a picture of
three major burnout symptoms.
1. Emotional exhaustion. Do you feel that you have nothing
much left to give? Like you want to either explode or go and
hide? Is your emotional energy level at an all-time low in
work or home relations?
2. Depersonalization. Do you find yourself more cynical
about people? Do you suspect their motives or expect the
worst? If you are in a helping profession, do you find
yourself thinking of people as “cases”, diagnoses, or
generically, simply as “problems”?
3. Reduced sense of accomplishment. Does it seem you are
working harder and getting less done? Do you picture yourself
in a squirrel cage walking and running, but going in circles
and not getting anywhere?
If these three factors describe you, you could be burning
out. Interestingly, it is typically the most committed people
who are vulnerable to burnout. (The others don't care!)
If you saw yourself in this burnout picture, you can begin
to recharge your batteries with these three strategies.
1. It’s okay to say no – really! It’s not essential that
everyone’s needs (perceived or real) be met all the time, and
it’s certainly not your responsibility to keep everyone happy.
Hang out with some people who like you but don’t need
anything. Learn to set your boundaries so that both your
relationships and you will last longer.
2. Change something. When you are down, go on a vacation or
even a weekend getaway. Think of a creative new way to get
something done and do it differently. Sign up for a class to
develop a new hobby. In your workaholic schedule, ink in some
time for fun and play.
3. Revive your spirit. Spend some regular time alone
connecting with your faith and nature. I highly recommend
journaling, particularly prayer jounaling. Pause to count your
blessings and give thanks. Notice the little answers to
prayers. At work, remind yourself of the meaning and purpose
of what you do. Recall times when you knew you were in the
flow of what you were made to do, and look for opportunities
to do more of that.
Balance your giving to others with these essential
strategies for recharging your internal resources and, like
the Energizer Bunny, you’ll be able to keep on going and going
and going.
Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist who has worked with
organizations across the globe for over 20 years. Her
high-energy, high-content, high-involvement Magnetic
Workplaces (r) programs provide dozens of practical strategies
and skills that can be put to work immediately to:
- build strong leaders who influence and develop others
through serving
- energize, motivate, and retain team members
- successfully accomplish important organizational
transitions
- impress customers and build their loyalty
Review a complete list of her programs available for your
convention or corporate meeting at the website,
www.MagneticWorkplaces.com
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