Burnout

Dan Wardp0lr@p0lr.org

What is Burnout?“Burnout is a prolonged response to chronic emotional and

interpersonal stressors on the job, and is defined by the three dimensions of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy.”

Excerpted from Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W.B., and Leiter, M.P, Annual Review of Psychology, V.52, 2001,pp.397-422

“the failure of the existential quest”—that moment when we wake up one morning and realize that what we’re doing

has appallingly little value.Ayala Pines - Excerpted from http://nymag.com/news/features/24757

“the gap between expectation and reward”Alden Cass - Excerpted from http://nymag.com/news/features/24757

“Burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work.”

Excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_(psychology)

Why Do We Talk About Burnout?The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire…

• Burnout has become a high-profile issue in the infosec community

• @secburnout team raised this issue early on…Security BSides Las Vegas, 2011

◦ (McKeay, Corman, Thayer, Yerrid, Shpantzer, Daniel)

◦ http://www.slideshare.net/secburnout/burnout-in-information-security

• …And it continues to be a problem

Why Do We Talk About Burnout?Early identification is the key to prevention &

recovery

http://www.cio.co.uk/news/security/stress-burnout-hazard-in-infosec-careers/http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/it-security-professionals-are-facing-burnout-risk/

1. The personality that excels at information security is also highly susceptible to burnout

2. We’re not exactly a humble or social bunch◦ Symptoms may manifest differently and,

therefore, not be recognized.◦ Reaching out for help is difficult

3. You may be more burned out than you realize

Stages of Burnout

1. The Compulsion to Prove Oneself

2. Working Harder3. Neglecting Needs4. Displacement of Conflicts5. Revision of Values6. Denial of Emerging Problems7. Withdrawal8. Obvious Behavioral Changes9. Depersonalization10. Inner Emptiness11. Depression12. Burnout

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_(psychology)

Employer loves you

Employer tolerates you

Employer acts

Escala

tion

of

bu

rnou

t

Causes of Burnout

“Imagine investigating the personality of cucumbers to discover why they had turned into sour pickles without analyzing the vinegar barrels in which they’d been submerged!”

Christine Maslach - Excerpted from http://nymag.com/news/features/24757

•Working too much•Unjust environments•Little support•Working where you feel unable to effect change•Serving values you loath•Insufficient reward (whether the currency is money, prestige, or positive feedback)

InfoSec Burnout Survey Results

Exhaustion Cynicism Efficacy0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

InfoSec

General Population

0 – Never1 – A few times a year or less2 – Once a month or less3 – A few times a month4 – Once a week5 – A few times a week6 – Every day

Maslach Burnout Indicator (MBI)

InfoSec Burnout Survey Results

Wor

kloa

d

Contro

l

Rewar

d

Comm

unity

Fairn

ess

Valu

es0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

InfoSec

General Population

1 – Strongly Disagree2 – Disagree3 – Hard to Decide4 – Agree5 – Strongly Agree

Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS)

Burnout “First Aid Kit”1. Realize there is a problem2. Determine why there is a problem• Start with expectations and commitments

3. Make small changes• Can you reset or renegotiate expectations?• Can you gracefully rescind commitments?

4. Take care of yourself• Sleep• Diet• Exercise

5. Enforce downtime6. Find a purpose outside of work

Additional proactive steps1. What is your “first alert”? (Personal danger signs

& triggers)• Danger signs: What are your stress habits

(eating, drinking, being rude)• Triggers: Too many assignments, office

politics, comments from co-workers, boss, friends

2. Enlist your own personal EMT crew• People you trust to identify your danger zone• Give them a list of triage tricks

3. Share your “get-well” plans• Asking for help, helps• Helping others, also helps• Strengthening connections = key

Burnout: Long-term Management

1. Examine things outside of work that may be contributing to stress and burnout

2. Examine your job role and your career ensuring that they fit your personality and natural talents

3. Examine your employer and your community to ensure that you share common values

4. As you discover areas of stress and conflict, start building longer-term plans to resolve them.

5. As you implement larger changes, check back periodically to make sure things are improving and adjust your plans accordingly

6. Once you create a more compatible work life, perform burnout self-checks to make sure you don’t recreate the problems that drove you to unhappiness.

For More Information

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/burnout_qt/what_is_burnout.pdf

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/burnout/WL00062/

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm

http://www.stressdoc.com/four_stages_burnbout.htm

http://www.slideshare.net/secburnout/burnout-in-information-security

http://nymag.com/news/features/24757/