Are You a Bystander to Burnout?

Photo by Anton Kraev on Unsplash

The bystander effect is a famous psychological phenomenon. In a nutshell, the idea behind the bystander effect is that if you are part of a large group you are less likely to take responsibility for action. One of the key components of the bystander effect is "diffusion of responsibility". You've probably seen diffusion of responsibility in action at work. Have you ever been in a meeting where follow ups are being assigned and everyone sits uncomfortably waiting for someone else to volunteer? You probably remained silent because you assumed that someone else will take on a follow up. I know I'm more likely to take on follow ups when I'm in a meeting with just one or two others.

I think that the bystander effect can contribute to burnout. If many people are feeling burnt out, it's easy to pass the buck and assume that someone else will take responsibility for it. This is further complicated by the fact that in many places there is a stigma around talking about mental health at work. I'm sure we've all complained about being stressed out or exhausted, but it can be awkward to dig into it further and try to actually implement solutions.

What can you do if you want to be more than just a bystander? I plan to explore that further in my post next week. To begin with, I think the first step is awareness. Do you think your coworkers or friends are struggling on the three scales of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, and accomplishment)? Have you talked to your manager or coworkers about burnout? We can’t resolve burnout around us without acknowledging it.

How do you think we can overcome being a bystander to burnout? Feel free to send me an email.