The Life of a Burned Out Adviser

Starring Michael Jennings

The 2007 National Conference for Advisors of Peer Education Groups

Denver, ColoradoJune 19, 2007

Welcome and Introduction(and why you should listen to me)

Advising Students is a privilege that can and does really make a

difference in their livesErin Morrell

Director of Campus Activities at Albertus Magnus College

Who is burned out? Who is stressed out?“A conversation between two advisors”

Or just a way to incorporate my wife into this session

What is the difference?“In Terms of liquid”

Stressed-Out vs. Burned-Out

Stressed-Out Burnout

Characterized by overengagementEmotions are overreactiveProduces urgency/hyperactivityPhysical exhaustionExhausts physical energy Leads to anxiety disordersCauses DisintegrationPrimary damage is physicalWill Kill you

Stressed-Out

Characterized by disengagementEmotions are blunted

Produces helplessness and hopelessnessMental exhaustion

Exhausts motivation, drive, ideals, hopesLeads to paranoia, detachment and depression

Causes DemoralizationPrimary damage is emotional

Won’t kill you but will make life not worth living

Burnout

Defining Burnout

Burnout "Burnout is the gradual process by which a person, in response

to prolonged stress and physical, mental and emotional strain, detaches from work and other meaningful relationships. The result is lowered productivity, cynicism, confusion...a feeling of being drained, having nothing more to give."

Mark Gorkin, Author of The Stress

Doctor

“Burnout is not the same as depressed, overworked or mentally broken down. It is a subtle process, in which somebody is gradually caught in a state of mental fatigue, completely empty

and drained of all energy" (Volkskrant, 29 April 1989)

Dr. Maslach’s Three Dimimisions of Burnout

“Advisor Burnout Syndrome”

ABS reduces your productivity, decreases your passion, limits the quality of the

interaction with students and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly powerless, cynical, and resentful. As the

stress escalates, you begin to lose interest and/or motivation in your roles

and responsibilities.

Based on Dr. Christina Maslach’s Definition of Burnout

How did I contract ABS?“My Story”

“Advisor Burnout Syndrome”“Yes, I made it up, I think.”

Who is at risk?• Helicopter Advisor

• Emotional Advisor

• Superhuman Advisor

• Friend Advisor

• First Time Advisor

What causes adviser “ABS”?

• Boredom/Lack of Responsibilities

• Too many Responsibilities• Lack of Recognition• Clueless colleagues/supervisor• Ungrateful students/adminstration• Passion Driven/Hard Lovers • Underpaid• Unappreciated• Unrealistic Goals• Conflict of connectivity

“ABS Symptoms”• Procrastination• Frustration and Powerlessness• Having trouble making decisions • Short-tempered, moodiness and irritability • Low energy-tired all the time • Loss of enthusiasm for work • Detachment, Withdrawal, Isolation • Being Trapped• Cynicism

Protecting yourself against Advisor Burnout Syndrome

• Clarify your job description • Understand your role• Say “No” • Schedule (Planning in advance)

Setting clear boundaries and goals for yourself and students

• Take “me” time• Co-advisor• Find other outlets on campus• Strive for Balance

More ABS Protection• Trust their judgment (You are a paid consultant) • Encourage member only events• Confide in others/Build a support system• Work the job; don’t let the job work you • Employ personal strategies to avoid or cope with

burnout• Create a plan

What is the source of my burn-out?

ReevaluateWhere I went Wrong

• Scheduled and Planned Better• Work with other campus entities on specific events • Trust my students more• An amended Open Door Policy (Specific Hours)• Not base my success as an advisor on how well the group did• Accept Kudos even if it didn’t come from the “Big Guy or Gal”• Build a better Advisor Networking System• Believed in what I was doing as an Advisor• I never said “NO”• Spoke out more for myself not just the students• Develop a plan

Outlining an Advisor PlanCreate a mock schedule for the year/understanding it can change

Basis of the relationships with students and co workers (boundaries and limits). Advertising , marketing and branding of the identity of the group Decide on how much personal and professional time you can invest

Set realistic expectations and encourage respect.

Balance and prioritize your responsibilities within the workplace

Erin MorrellAdvising Student Organizations

Outlining an Advisor Plan

Provide effective training for new members/Leaders

Establish goals and deadlines/ Hold them accountable

Strive to understand their perspectives and make sure they know yours (Consultant Mentality)-Communication

Help students manage multiple leadership roles/Trust leadership

Find projects and events that motivate

Strive to avoid burnout by reinventing yourself

Create a reward system

Erin MorrellAdvising Student Organizations

Questions, comments and concernsQuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

ReferencesBaptist Hospital East. (2007) Burnout in The Workplace. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from The Baptist Hospital

East Website: URL: http://www.baptisteast.com/healthinfo/occupational/WOR003.cfm

Gorkin, Mark. (2006) The Four Stages of Burnout. Retrieved May 24, 2007, from The Stress Doc Website:http://www.stressdoc.com/four_stages_burnbout.htm

Harrison, Ian. (2007) Burnout: Identify & Avoid It. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from Ask Men Website: http://www.askmen.com/money/career_60/85b_career.html

McGee-Cooper, Ann. (1990) You Don’t Have to Go Home from Work Exhausted!. New York: Bantam Books.

Morrell, Erin. (2006, November/December) Advising Student Organizations. Campus Activites Programming,p. 22-25

Potter, Beverly. (1998) Overcoming Job Burnout: How to Renew Enthusiasm for Work. Berkeley: RONIN Publishing

Segal, R. (2007) Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention. Retrieved April 20, 2007, from The Help Guide Website: URL: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm

Texas A&M Career Counseling. (2005) Burnout. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from The Texas A&M Career Center Website: http://www.scs.tamu.edu/selfhelp/elibrary/burn_out.asp

Rfederici. (2007) Are you Experiencing Job Burnout? Retrieved April 20, 2007, from Nami County, Pennsylvania Website: URL: http://chester.nami.org/Job/burnout.pdf

Contact Information

Michael Jennings

Michael@bacchusnetwork.org

303.871.0901