Grit vs Burn Out

Grit vs Burn out.

Should we start closely analyzing who we surround ourselves with in the workplace?

Despite the importance of addressing burnout, there is still a knowledge gap in understanding one of the key features of employee burnout, namely, the personal characteristics of employees.... grit.

Research suggests that grit is a reliable predictor of one’s long-term goals and is highly correlated with traits such as conscientiousness, willpower, self-discipline, and an even higher IQ. Moreover, grit has been found to be a reliable predictor of individual performance.

How does one possess grit?

An understanding of happiness and well-being, which are also important components of resilience, are based on five factors: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. A deep sense of meaning and purpose in life is associated with good adjustment and resilience.

What is burnout?

The WHO defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from unmanaged chronic workplace stress, manifesting in emotional fatigue, suspicion, and decreased work performance. Although not a disease, burnout is a syndrome that can lead to depression and negatively impact one’s health and job performance.

Burnout can be characterized by six key aspects: workload, management, reward, community, fairness, and value, all of which must be balanced to promote employee well-being and productivity. Additionally, grit has been found to drive employees’ success in their field of interest and should be considered in relation to burnout.

Although personality traits such as grit can help employees cope with stress and prevent burnout, it is crucial for employees to receive support, understanding, and professional backup from their management and leadership teams.

Reference

Kristinsson, K. Et al. Tough Times Require Tough People: The Benefits of Grit for Reducing Employee Burnout. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20116024

Matthews, M. The Link Between Grit and Resilience.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/tests/personality/resilience-test