Book Tip: Strategies to Prevent Burnout

A must-read for any manager aiming to build an efficient company while preventing employee burnout

Our colleague Dr. Yevgen Bogodistov, together with Dr. Jürgen Moormann from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, wrote the Book "Process Management and Burnout Prevention."

This book is not about spiritual practices or reminding you how serious burnout is—we are all well aware of that. Instead, it is about staying ahead of burnout, ensuring your company remains efficient and effective while fostering happier employees and managers. Think of it as a game: with this book, you will learn the rules and strategies to play—and win. With theory connected to visual examples and useful tips for applying these ideas in real life.

Yevgen, what is the book about?

“Our book starts with exploring the history of process management, by tracing its evolution and significance in modern business, and an introduction to business psychology. We hereby particularly focus on the psychology of burnout— what are its causes, effects, and implications in the workplace. We continue by looking into how process management tools can be used. A lot of literature focuses on enhancing efficiency, in this book, we take it a step further and look at how these processes can be used to identify psychological issues within teams and organizations.

Additionally, to the theoretical approach, this book provides actionable strategies and tools to address and mitigate these psychological challenges, creating a healthier and more sustainable work environment. By integrating insights from psychology and process management, we aim to offer a comprehensive pathway to understand, identify, and treat work-related stress and burnout effectively.”

Why is this topic especially relevant right now? Why should professionals read it?

“Increasing global competition necessitates continuous improvement in business efficiency. Companies unable to adapt, risk being pushed out of the market. Emerging technologies like AI, robotic process automation, blockchain, and cloud computing offer ways to make business processes faster, better, and more cost-effective. These technologies are often implemented to handle more transactions, serve customers faster, and reduce costs, with the perception that work has become easier compared to pre-digital times. However, this relentless drive for productivity has a darker side.

Reports of burnout and mental strain among employees are on the rise, with burnout being termed the 'Disease of the Century.' While not officially classified as an illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a work-related syndrome caused by chronic stress that is poorly managed. Over time, excessive workloads can lead to chronic stress and burnout. Though not a direct illness, burnout often results in extended sick leaves, as affected employees need time to recover. The health consequences can range from physical issues like back pain to severe mental health challenges like depression.

Burnout and mental health challenges affect employees at all levels of an organization, including managers, across both private companies and public administration, where rigid hierarchies often intensify the issue. Our book is relevant for anyone looking to address these problems, especially process owners, process managers, consultants, and those passionate about transforming stressful work environments into healthier, more enjoyable workplaces.”

What are the three key takeaways or practical tips from the book?

• Human-Centric Process Design: Business processes should be designed to consider the psychological and physiological strengths of employees, not only customer needs. Workflows should be tailored in such a way, that they align with individual preferences, such as working with people versus numbers. This creates more effective and satisfying processes.

• Mindful Technology Integration: Using technology to improve productivity is important, but it should match tasks with employees' natural talents and psychological capacities. Striking a balance between enhancing well-being and respecting privacy is key to improving both work quality and the emotional climate.

• Innovative Over Incremental Changes: Instead of simply optimising existing processes to increase speed and efficiency, organizations should aim for radical process innovation. This involves designing human-centred workflows that prioritise meaningful human interaction and personal preferences over traditional productivity metrics.