Have you ever been in a situation at work, where you’re the one watching poor, even toxic, behaviours being played out in front of you, but you feel powerless to intervene? Or you try but you get knocked back?
Or perhaps certain practices are going on that leave you feeling as though your values or ethical principles are being compromised, but that’s what’s being demanded of you so you go along with it because you need the job?
Or perhaps you’re feeling unable to deliver the service you really know you should be, but because of budget constraints or resourcing challenges, you’re delivering a below par service?
Turns out there’s a term for the moral distress, emotional exhaustion, stress and disillusionment that can result from repeatedly being in these sorts of situations over a prolonged period of time.
Moral burnout.
And as with any other kind of burnout, it impacts your mental and physical wellbeing, your ability to perform effectively in your role, and spills into your personal life.
I first came across this term in relation to the medical profession.
If you think about it, doctors, nurses, physios, surgeons etc. all joined their professions because they’re following a greater calling to help people in need. So just imagine the pressure they are under when they know they can’t help everyone in a timely manner. It’s not just the pressure of an unrelentingly huge workload and understaffing, but the pressure, powerlessness and frustration of knowing some people, many people, are suffering, perhaps deteriorating, maybe even dying, because they are having to wait so long for treatment.
It’s going to take a toll on their mental health, and ultimately their physical health.
Similarly, if you’re going to work every day, in any job, and watching a bad manager bullying others, gossiping, showing favouritism, stealing credit, criticising, micromanaging and so on, but you don’t feel safe enough or have the hierarchical authority to do something about it, that too will take its toll.
Internal conflict. Emotional exhaustion. Constant stress. Battered values. Forced compromise. Disillusionment. Disappointment. Frustration. Despair.
Moral burnout.
We need more authentic, compassionate, courageous and creative leaders and decision-makers to lead from the front, and by example, to create work environments for moral and mental thriving.
Get in touch if you want to learn how.
