A presentation at KCDC 2024 in in Kansas City, MO, USA by Todd Libby
FROM CODE TO CALM: COMBATING BURNOUT IN TECH KCDC 2024
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TODD LIBBY FMR. SR. ACCESSIBILITY ENGINEER 25+ years web development/accessibility W3C Invited Expert Phoenix, AZ “Semi-retired” For Hire @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
BURNOUT HOW DO WE BEAT BURNOUT? Key Points 1. Recognizing the signs. 2. Addressing burnout. 3. Combating burnout. 4. Coming out of burnout. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS HOW DID WE GET HERE? @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
THE PRECURSOR
“BURNOUT IS THE SYMPTOM. STRESS IS THE SOURCE.” HAMZA KHAN @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
YOU • Stress/Anxiety • Fatigue/Tired • Reduced Performance • Emotionally Empty • Detached/Disengaged • Health (Mental, Physical) Decline ff @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024 THEM • Understa ed • Long Hours • High-Stress • Emotionally Taxing • Bad Managers • Toxic Environment
THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
MISSING WHAT HAS BEEN DISAPPEARING LATELY? • Happiness • Enthusiasm • Work Ethic • Appetite • Humor • Patience @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
INTERNAL TRAITS WHY DO WE BURN OUT? • You hold your expectations high, overly ambitious, perfectionist. • You have a strong need for recognition. • You are a people pleaser. • You need to control things, no delegation; feel irreplacable. • You overestimate yourself, overcommit to work, overburden yourself. • You view work as the only meaningful thing in life and substitute work for a social life. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
EXTERNAL TRAITS WHY DO WE BURN OUT? • The job is a high-pressure job • There is a lack of communication and/or support from management. • You are in a job that does not promote a healthy work-life balance. • Workload is unmanageable, no realistic expectations you alone can do the work. • No system in place to address burnout at the organization level. • No system in place to reward employees with incentives. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
AGE OF COVID-19
“THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN E-MAIL.” YOU & I BOTH @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
81% OF DEVELOPERS
46% OF DEVELOPERS
ADDRESSING BURNOUT HOW DO WE FIX THIS? @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
THE INVENTORY
“TIME TO GO INWARD, MAN, I HOPE I HAVE THE NERVE, TO TAKE INVENTORY OF THE CAUSES I SERVE.” RODNEY CROWELL @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
YOU SELF-CARE STARTS WITHIN @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
INVENTORY
MASLACH’S BURNOUT INVENTORY MEASURES HOW OFTEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE FEELINGS AROUND EXHAUSTION, CYNICISM, AND PROFESSIONAL EFFICACY.
FREE https://www.mindtools.com/ auhx7b3/burnout-self-test
PAID https://mindgarden.com/117maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi
5 WORK EXPERIENCE PROFILES TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RESULTS OF THE MBI TEST • Burnout: Negative scores on all 3 dimensions. • Overextended: High negativity score on exhaustion only. • Ine ective: High negative score on professional e icacy only. • Disengaged: High negative score on cynicism only. • Engagement: High positive scores on exhaustion, cynicism, and professional e ff ff ff @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024 icacy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK • Acknowledge burnout is not personal failure. • Identify tasks that are energizing, not draining. • Say “no” more often. Ask for help! Rest! • Keep track of every win or positive event, no matter how small. • Re realistic with what you can and cannot achieve with what you have. • Lower demands and standards on yourself and demands at work. • Tap into resources and a support network. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
COMBATING BURNOUT HOW DO I GET OUT OF BURNOUT? @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
THE WORK
“WORK HARDER ON YOURSELF THAN YOU DO ON YOUR JOB.” JIM ROHN @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
HUSTLE & GRIND CULTURE
HYPOCRISY IN TECH
THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT US
WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
PLAN OF ACTION LET’S GET BETTER BEFORE WE GET WORSE • Take care of your body and mind. • Pinpoint your problems and address them immediately. • Delegate and diversify your time and workload. • Distance yourself from stressors. • Re-evaluate your goals and values. • Explore alternative paths. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
PLAN OF ACTION LET’S GET BETTER BEFORE WE GET WORSE • Talk to a professional. • Alert your support system. • Tell people what you need. • Self-care and/or self-compassion. • Set boundaries. • Do things that make you happy. @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
A “BREAK” IS A BAND-AID
I’M BURNT OUT! I’M HUNGRY FEED ME!
COMING OUT OF BURNOUT WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
IT TAKES A LONG TIME!
THE HEALING
“THE BEST REVENGE IS NO REVENGE. HEAL YOURSELF AND MOVE ON. DON’T BECOME LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU.” UNKNOWN @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
TAKE TIME OFF, GET AWAY
PLAN OF ACTION HELP US, HELP OURSELVES • Breathing exercises/meditation. • Get outdoors. • Don’t rush it, take your time. • Spend time with family or friends. • Read. • Alone time with something new and di ff @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024 erent.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO DISPENSE ADVICE?
ME NOT A PROFESSIONAL Research and interviewed clinical professionals Lessons learned through others who’ve had burnout 2 years removed from severe burnout Multiple burnout instances over 25 years in development Recovering alcoholic of 10+ years @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
“THE RIPPLE EFFECT HAS IMPACT ON EVERYONE AROUND YOU.” ME @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
TAKEAWAYS WHAT DID WE LEARN? 1. Recognize the signs before it’s too late. 2. Addressing the issues before they increase. 3. Cite the sources, better your situation. Help yourself irst. 4. Use resources and people to help you come back. f @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
@TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
Thank you! @TODDLIBBY • KCDC 2024
In today’s fast-paced tech industry and for decades, the relentless pursuit of innovation and productivity can often lead to burnout among its passionate professionals. “From Code to Calm: Combating Burnout in Tech” explores the critical issue of burnout and offers practical strategies for tech enthusiasts to maintain their well-being while excelling in their careers.
This engaging talk will delve into the unique stressors that tech professionals face and shed light on the factors contributing to burnout, such as tight deadlines, demanding projects, and constant connectivity. Attendees will gain valuable insights into recognizing the early signs of burnout and learn how to proactively address them.
Moreover, this presentation will provide a toolkit of actionable techniques tailored to the tech industry. From effective time management and stress-reduction practices to fostering a culture of well-being within tech organizations, attendees will leave equipped with a holistic approach to combat burnout and achieve a state of calm and resilience in their tech careers.
The following resources were mentioned during the presentation or are useful additional information.
Engineering productivity business Haystack Analytics coordinated the study which found burnout has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 81% of developers reporting increased burnout due to the pandemic. The top reason cited by developers for greater feelings of burnout during the pandemic was increased workload. The study also finds that 83% of developers are concerned about software reliability at their workplace, of which 20% are concerned to a great extent.
Burnout occurs when passionate, committed people become deeply disillusioned with a job or career from which they have previously derived much of their identity and meaning. It comes as the things that inspire passion and enthusiasm are stripped away, and tedious or unpleasant things crowd in.
This tool can help you to check yourself for burnout. It helps you to look at the way you feel about your job and your experiences at work, so that you can get a feel for whether you are at risk of burnout.
The MBI measures burnout as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in the ICD-11.
Do you want to measure both the extent and pattern of burnout and the likely cause? The Maslach Burnout Toolkit can help you.
Christina Maslach and Michael Leiter recently published an excellent book on burnout. The Burnout Challenge provides pragmatic, creative and cost-effective solutions to improve employee efficiency, health and happiness.
Don’t mistake HR for career coaches. Here’s why…
Feeling burned out at work? Find out what you can do when your job affects your health.
Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) are leverage for an employer so that employer has more power over you. You are indicting yourself and it is used against you. If you’re burnout, you especially do not want to sign a PIP.
for free. You
can too.