Described by the WHO as “resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed,” burnout is characterized by “feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy.” While already a prevalent issue, the COVID-19 pandemic has added fuel to the growing flame – while organizations are proudly touting more productivity, employees are working more hours, taking less time off, and taking on more responsibility (in and out of the workplace). Though the term “burnout” was coined in the 1970s, more recent researchers describe the causes of burnout as collective, and impossible for an individual to fix without a systems perspective. Instead of pressuring already-stressed individuals to fix themselves, true wellness requires organization-level interventions.

In this engagement, Dr. Leah Weiss, who created a perennially waitlisted course called “Leading with Mindfulness and Compassion” at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, digs into the root causes of workplace burnout, how organizations and its leaders can better support their people, and how to build resilience in uncertain times – the moments that can rattle the foundations of every organization. With a focus on compassion, Dr. Weiss encourages her audiences to remember we are all human beings and how we can create better workplaces that are emotionally intelligent and mindful.

Despite what is often taught, self-criticism is detrimental to productivity. Self-criticism causes you to procrastinate and hide from your mistakes rather than correct them. It also harms your relationships with colleagues rather than improving them. Contrary to what we have been brought up to believe, self-hate – manifested as an inability to tolerate failure – impedes success and hinders you from the motivation to do better. Conversely, self-compassion fosters reduced procrastination and a greater ability to accept and learn from failure and critical feedback.

In this event, Dr. Leah Weiss, Stanford Graduate School of Business professor and author of How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily Grind, invites audiences to relearn the path to productivity and success. With her experience training thousands of executives, team leaders, students, veterans, and Silicon Valley’s best and brightest in mindfulness and years of personal and academic mindfulness research, Dr. Weiss is an expert on the connection of mindfulness, self-compassion, and resilience. After this session, audiences will walk away empowered and able to apply strategies and practices at individual or organizational levels to navigate challenges in healthy and positive ways that foster growth and success.