Run Your Own Burnout Epidemic Book Club

Jennifer Moss is the author The Burnout Epidemic, published by Harvard Business Press in 2021.

Supporting Materials:

PDF Version of Overview

Supporting Slides

Other Supporting Content

We’ve put together this list of questions to get you started with your discussions for each chapter of The Burnout Epidemic, in order for you to take a deeper dive into the concepts of the book.

You can also visit our book page to buy bulk copies of The Burnout Epidemic at a reduced rate.

After your members have read the book, use the critical thinking questions below to help guide the discussion.

Jennifer suggests running your book club for six or 12 weeks with six segments. 2 segments for each of the three sections of the book - Insights - Strategies -Leadership

PART ONE - Insights

Week 1 - The Six Root Causes of Burnout

Questions for Discussion:

  • What does The Burnout Epidemic describe as the six root causes of burnout?

  • Which of these resonates with you and why? 

  • Have you used any tools to deal with this cause? – share examples.

Additional Reading:

What causes burnout, and how to prevent it - Big Think 

How Stress Impacts Productivity 

How Does Burnout Affect Productivity? 

Week 2 - The Most Vulnerable Among Us

Questions for Discussion:

  • What does The Burnout Epidemic describe as the three personalities most at risk of burnout?

  • Which of these resonates with you and why?

  • Discuss the specific ways in which your industry is vulnerable to burnout.

Additional Reading:

Burnout 

Help Your Team Manage Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout 

How to Prevent Employee Burnout - Gallup 


PART TWO - Strategies

Week 3 - Good Intentions Gone Bad

Questions for Discussion:

  • What strategies have you seen implemented that didn’t work out as planned? 

  • Why do you think that is?

  • What are some ways that leaders can model healthy behaviors? 

  • Jennifer describes strategies that work, including Be Inclusive, Protect Personal Time, Rebalance Workloads, and Give Time Instead of Gifts – describe examples where you have seen any of these strategies in action. 

Additional Reading:

The Trouble With Employee Surveys 

https://www.jennifer-moss.com/media-appearances/google-cuts-perks-in-empty-offices 

Workplace wellness benefits don't help. Here's what does 

Week 4 - How to Measure Burnout

Questions for Discussion:

  • Has your organization employed surveys to measure burnout? Were they effective? Discuss why or why not.

  • Gauge your own feelings using these questions, then discuss the results with the group.

    • Over the past week...

      • How overwhelmed did you feel, on a scale of 1 to 5? (1 is lowest, 5 is highest)

      • How many days did you work later than you should?

      • How many days did you answer emails after hours?

      • How effective did you feel, on a scale of 1 to 5?

      • How productive did you feel, on a scale of 1 to 5?

      • How much fun did you have, on a scale of 1 to 5?

  • What are the three key points that The Burnout Epidemic tells us we should focus on when measuring for burnout? Discuss why these are key.

Additional Reading:

How to Recognize Burnout Culture at Your Business | CO- by US Chamber of Commerce 

Why Burnout Happens — and How Bosses Can Help   

Beyond Burned Out 


PART THREE - Leadership

Week 5 - Leading with Curiosity

Questions for Discussion:

  • How does your curiosity show up in your work?

  • In what ways can you employ a curious mindset to foster more meaningful connection to others?

  • What blocks or interferes with your curiosity? What could you do to remove these obstacles?

Additional Reading:

Creating a Happier Workplace Is Possible — and Worth It 

Week 6 - Becoming an Empathetic Leader

Questions for Discussion:

  • Share a time over the last year where you’ve demonstrated empathy in the workplace. What did it look like and what were the results?

  • Name one thing you are going to start doing to create a culture of burnout prevention in your organization:

    • Today

    • In one month

    • By the end of the year

Additional Reading:

Empathy Is The Most Important Leadership Skill According To Research 

Preventing Burnout Is About Empathetic Leadership  

Speaking to the Head and the Heart: Prioritizing Empathetic Communication in the Post-COVID Workplace  

State of Workplace Empathy | Businessolver 

Take Care of Yourself, Too

  • What are the HERO traits described in The Burnout Epidemic?

  • What is one thing you are to start doing to prevent burnout in your own life?

    • Today

    • In one month

    • By the end of the year

Additional Reading:

How to Help Your Team with Burnout When You’re Burned Out Yourself 

Exhausted? You’re not alone. Here’s what to do about it - The Globe and Mail