Best Practice

Could you spot the signs and symptoms of burn-out?

The pandemic has heightened the pressure facing school leaders and teachers, making burn-out a clear and present danger. Wellbeing trainer and author Ross McWilliam looks at spotting the signs


Burn-out is included in the International Classification of Diseases from the World Health Organisation as an occupational phenomenon and is defined thus: “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; reduced professional efficacy.”

If we have burn-out in the workplace, we may be lacking energy, be exhausted, possess negativity to the workplace (even towards people), and have a reduced ability to perform and achieve results.

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