Burnout’s Core Symptoms: Confusion & Controversies
Dr Ben J. Searle discusses some confusion and controversies surrounding the core symptoms of burnout: exhaustion, detachment, and diminished self-efficacy.
New podcast season coming soon
Editing the recording of a delightful chat I had with Professor Sharon Parker (director of the Curtin U. Centre for Transformational Work Design) as part of a new season of the podcast, launching later in 2025. Stay tuned or re-listen to the first series!
Alysa Liu: A Case Study in Burnout Recovery
Alysa Liu’s victory in the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships is nothing short of inspirational. Not just for aspiring ice dancers, but also for people experiencing burnout! Burnout is a condition caused by chronic stress. The primary symptoms are described by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as:* Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;* Increased…
Disconnect… to avoid becoming Disconnected
by Ben J. Searle, Organisational Psychologist The big IR, HR, and WHS news in Australia this week is the new legislation around the right to disconnect. The legislation (to give it it’s proper name, “The Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Bill”) will provide employees the right — where reasonable — to ignore work-related communications…
Occupational Stress series
A brief series I made in 2014 on the nature of work stress and how to manage it.
What is MIND ON THE JOB?
Imagine a workplace where everything just… works. No bureaucratic delays. No counter-intuitive forms or software. No communication problems. No interpersonal conflicts. No worries. Organisational psychology is the study of human thoughts, feelings and behaviours relating to the world of work, and the application of psychology methods, theories and findings to workplace improvement. It helps you…
Terrific teamwork: Designing, coaching & assessing teams
Mind on the Job episode 06 is about Designing & coaching terrific teams! When a group of people get together under the right conditions, they can make a successful team — one whose collective capability is greater than the sum of its parts. But not all teams are effective, and some are downright dysfunctional. So why…
Organisational culture & climate: What they are, why they matter, & how they change.
Mind on the Job episode 05: Organisational Culture & Climate! When people work in social groupings, like organisations, they tend to develop a shared set of perceptions, attitudes, and values. These can be reinforced through systems, behaviours, and personnel selection until you have measurable phenomena that we call organisational culture (and it’s more easily measured…
Psychology Insights into Effective Job Selection — Mind On The Job
Mind on the Job episode 04: Assessment for Selection! People are an organisation’s greatest asset, and from time to time, an organisation needs new people. But when a bunch of candidates apply for the one job, how do we work out who is the best person for the job? What are the limitations of traditional…
What Causes Burnout & What Can We Do To Prevent It?
Mind on the Job episode 3 — #Burnout & #Wellbeing! Work can sometimes be stressful, but if it gets too bad or goes on for too long, people can burn out. But what does that look like? How would you know if you’re at risk of burning out? What causes burnout, and what should organisations be…