Burnt out at work? Follow psychologist Angela Duckworth's advice
What we learnt this week on Tim Campbell’s podcast reWORKING
Have you been feeling burnt out or unmotivated at work? It might be your situation, not you. This week on his podcast reWORKING, Tim Campbell was joined by one of the world’s most influential psychologists, Angela Duckworth.
Angela is famous for her groundbreaking work on grit: the idea that passion and perseverence matter more than talent when it comes to long-term success. But after years of studying high achievers, she’s come to a few surprising conclusions. In the episode, she explains why so many ambitious people get stuck trying harder when what they really need is a different environment, relationship or way of thinking. From burnout and motivation to failure, confidence and career transitions, she shares the research that changed her own mind about achievement.
Read on for a few things we learnt from Angela's episode, which you can listen to now on Rayo, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Burnout is a mismatch between you and your situation, not a weakness
Angela says burnout has three features: exhaustion, detachment and helplessness. The cause is usually a mismatch with your situation. That could be a workload issue, but it could just as easily be a clash with your values, being in the wrong team or not having enough say in your work.
It has nothing to do with laziness. as Angela put it, “slackers don’t burn out”
Don't assume you don't have enough willpower.
Your situation shapes your thoughts, and your thoughts shape your reaction. Most of us go straight to the reaction and try to fix it with willpower, without asking how we got there.
Angela’s alternative? Be your own ad agency and put reminders of your goals where you'll see them. She keeps a Post-it note at eye level in her office.
Zoom out
Now, put things in perspective. When you think you're failing, your nose is pressed up against the glass and it's all you can see.
Step away and get a clearer picture of your next steps. When Angela was writing her book and it wasn't going well, her mum told her: "you're not a failure, it's a process. Every painting is imperfect, and there's always another one. "
Passion and purpose are key
Angela says interest and purpose are the two parts of “intrinsic motivation”. Without passion, it's hard to keep at it.
Angela also shared a practical tool called goal fusion: tie a tedious task to its bigger purpose. When she's revising her slides for the eighteenth time, she tells herself she's sharing psychological wisdom. An example she used was a story of Tom Brady sprinting in a car park before a charity event. When a friend asked him what he was doing, he told them “winning the Super Bowl”.
What is the reWORKING podcast?
reWORKING is hosted by business coach and The Apprentice UK’s first-ever winner Tim Campbell. Every week, Tim and a new guest help you solve your biggest work and money problems, from asking your boss for a pay rise to knowing when it’s time to quit – and everything in between.
Who is Angela Duckworth?
American psychologist and professor Angela Duckworth is one of the world’s leading experts on grit – the combination of passion and perseverance that helps us achieve long-term goals. Her research asks a question most of us have probably wondered at some point: what actually separates the people who succeed from everyone else? Angela also authored #1 New York Times bestselling book ‘Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance’ and ‘Situated’.
What other guests are joining reWORKING season two?
Other season two guests include Will Storr, Rochelle Humes, Simon Squibb, Ashley Walters, Dean Forbes, Frankie Bridge and Leah Meredith, Jamil Qureshi, Joel Dommett and Ben Shephard, Elfried Samba, Stacey Duguid and Georgie Barrat. The season premiere with Rochelle Humes was released last week.
How can I listen to reWORKING season two?
Listen on Rayo, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.
How can I stay up to date with Tim Campbell and reWORKING season two?
Follow @reworkingpodcast on Instagram and TikTok and @reWORKINGwithTimCampbellpod on YouTube.