Burnout comes from people not getting what they need out of their jobs.

Causes of burnout include:

  • Imbalanced workload not enabling growth or rest.
  • Lack of control/autonomy.
  • Disproportionate time/effort vs intrinsic/extrinsic rewards.
  • Lack of social support or short-lived relationships.
  • Unfairness in treatment, acknowledgment, resources.
  • Difference in values/ideals between individuals and organization.

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Poor balance between defense versus fires can contribute too.


  1. Elizabeth Grace Saunders, “6 Causes of Burnout, and How to Avoid Them,” Harvard Business Review, July 5, 2019, https://hbr.org/2019/07/6-causes-of-burnout-and-how-to-avoid-them. (See notes.)