This Business of Burnout: Brownout versus Burnout

Part One of this series discussed how to recognize that you’re burned out. But are you able to recognize when you’re browning out?

What exactly is brownout?

The term brownout, coined from the energy sector, has been used to describe a state when employees and/or leaders have sudden and significant reduction of their energy levels. Unless remedied, those employees—and leaders—become disengaged, demotivated, and lose interest in their job and/or their performance. 

Recognizing brownout

It may not be easy to identify employees experiencing brownout, nor is it necessarily easy to identify it in yourself. Because you’re not at a fully tapped energy level, you’re still able to get the minimum responsibilities of your job done. While you may rapidly lose energy and drive during a project cycle, you’re still able to rally a bit and rejuvenate yourself after you deliver the work. Colleagues are able to rely on you to a large degree, and may mistake your experience—if you share it— as simply a need to vent.  

Of particular concern is the leader suffering from brownout. If the organization does not recognize the risk of damage, leaders who are in a state of brown out often ignore new ideas, fail to appropriately support their talent, and generally withdraw from their leadership responsibilities.

How does brownout appear?

While burnout results in a total inability to engage in professional or personal activities, brownouts can appear as a cycle. There can be a period where the employee or leader feels a temporary relief, momentarily or situationally motivated to tackle a new assignment or initiative. Remaining on a brownout cycle without relief, however, eventually depletes their healthy baseline state. It takes more and more energy to rise out of the brownout cycle, and the resulting return to brownout dips farther and farther below a healthy baseline. Eventually, the employee has depleted their energy stores and enter a full state of burnout.

Brownout to Burnout Cycles

This Brownout to Burnout Cycles diagram depicts a typical cycle series. You’ll notice first that you have your own health baseline, where you’re able to meet your health needs. You feel well-nourished, well-rested, incorporate healthy movement regularly, and are able to balance your work and personal responsibilities with ease. Simply stated, you’re living an easy-to-maintain, fulfilling life.