You constantly feel the need to prove yourself. You ignore your own needs and personal care. Your entire self-worth is wrapped up in your job. You always feel on the brink of physical or mental collapse. And of course, you keep these feelings bottled up inside.
If this sounds familiar, then you're probably suffering from Overwhelmed Executive Administrator Syndrome — otherwise known as burnout from physical and mental exhaustion.
Overachievers are most at risk for this condition and, as a rule, most surgery center leaders fall into this category. After all, if you're responsible for everything from challenging reimbursement issues to ever-changing regulations and accreditation standards to ensuring patient and surgeon satisfaction and reducing costs, it makes sense that you'd be an overstressed overachiever.
Not sure if you're at risk for — or currently suffering from — leadership overwhelm? We made it quick and easy to diagnose your condition. See "13 Common Signs It Is Overwhelmed Executive Administrator Syndrome" on page 11 to find out if you're guilty of the types of habits that almost always result in burnout. After that, it's probably time to make some changes. Here are a few to consider:
