Burnout Has Six Causes
Christina Maslach's research identified six drivers of burnout. Workload is only one. The other five (fairness, control, community, reward, values) predict it more strongly. Most organizations only address the wrong one.
The Pre-Mortem
Gary Klein's pre-mortem technique flips planning on its head. Instead of asking "how will we succeed?" you ask "it failed, why?" Teams that do this catch 30% more risks.
The Loss Aversion Tax
Kahneman and Tversky proved people work twice as hard to avoid losing something as they do to gain something equivalent. Most HR programs ignore this completely.
Open Offices Failed
We ran a twenty-year experiment on open offices. The data is in. Face-to-face interaction dropped. Email increased. Collaboration decreased. Time to admit it didn't work.
The Silent Start
Most meetings fail in the first minute when the loudest voice sets the agenda. A silent start changes the dynamic entirely. Everyone thinks before anyone speaks.
The Peak-End Rule
People don't remember experiences as averages. They remember the peak moment and how it ended. This changes everything about how you design employee experiences.
Stop Building Culture
Most culture initiatives add programs, events, values statements. But the best cultures aren't built through addition. They emerge when you subtract the friction that prevents good behavior.
Habit Stack Your Recognition
Recognition intentions fail because they float in your calendar, unanchored. Attach them to something you already do, and they become automatic.
The 70% Rule
Managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement. Not culture. Not perks. Not mission statements. The person running the weekly standup.
The Unlimited PTO Trap
Unlimited PTO sounds generous but often reduces time off. Without a clear number, people guess wrong. And they almost always guess low.
The 90-Minute Rule
Your brain cycles through 90-minute focus periods, then demands rest. Fighting this costs energy. Working with it is free leverage.
The Ulysses Contract for Work
Pre-commitment devices work because they remove the decision point entirely. One calendar trick that locks in your best intentions.