The Sustainable Career: Burnout, Boundaries, and Balance in Business

In today’s always-on, plugged-in business climate, many of us are pulled by the perceived 24-hour demands of the job - whether we actually are working extra hours or whether our thoughts are constantly about work. In many business sectors, stress is implied in the job description. Employees at all levels are being asked to do more, in less time, and with fewer resources.

However, when under constant stress, do you make high quality decisions, communicate effectively, cope with mistakes, and model good workplace behavior? Are we good colleagues? Do we contribute to a positive work environment? Perhaps, the reality is more that we avoid or postpone difficult tasks, communications or decisions, and sometimes even lash-out at colleagues or subordinates. A key question to ask is, do we effectively manage the stresses of the job (or school, or life for that matter)? When we are overwhelmed and stressed are we the best or worst version of ourselves? And, in that moment, are we the people our organizations and colleagues need us to be?

2020 has ushered in a new set of stressors with a global pandemic and concerns of a global economic downturn. This truth coupled with the realities of modern day work life require that those in and entering the workforce be able to cope with the stresses of life and work. According to the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work, “around half of European workers consider stress to be common in their workplace, and it contributes to around half of all lost working days. Psychosocial risks arise from poor work design, organization and management, as well as a poor social context of work, and they may result in negative psychological, physical and social outcomes such as work-related stress, burnout or depression.”[1]

This course seeks to serve as a preventative measure or an intervention helping students to develop awareness, increase stress coping resources, build resilience and gain skills necessary to avoid burnout, set boundaries and find balance in business.
Register now for this hands on experiential course that will help you to be pro-active in creating a sustainable career and life. Looking forward to seeing you this summer.

[1] European Agency for Health and Safety at Work

Course leader

Yanique Fletcher

Target group

Bachelor students

Course aim

After completing the course, students should have knowledge of:

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
- Acquire understanding of positive psychology interventions, and their work-related implications
- Learn theories and key studies on emotional intelligence
- Learn the philosophical basis and modern applications of mindfulness
- Understand the principles of establishing relationships and networking
- Learn the fundamentals of scientific studies on happiness and well-being
- Demonstrate an understanding of key theories and techniques for compassion and self-compassion
- Learn the basics of mindfulness and the theoretical mechanisms supporting it
- Acquire mindfulness-based tools and techniques
- Acquire tools for assessing strengths and understand how to employ these in order to achieve lasting wellness in your career
- Learn essentials of cognitive biases and how they affect your outlook and behavior

Learning outcomes - Skills
- Identify cognitive biases that negatively affect personal decision making, and find ways to mindfully navigate “cognitive bias minefields”
- Critically explore scientific research on happiness and well-being to achieve better integration of behavioral change
- Critically evaluate, practice, and incorporate selected principles of positive psychology into your own life and career
- Develop resilience to cope with job related stress
- Integrate mindfulness philosophy and practices into daily life for a better and more productive work life
- Develop and rehearse ways to cultivate compassion for co-workers and colleagues to support a healthy workspace
- Apply techniques to foster self-compassion
- Be able to establish relationships and network in professional settings through the practice of optimism
- Identify your key strengths, and incorporate them into your career plan
- Regulate patterns of thinking to better work with both positive and negative experiences and moods

Credits info

7.5 EC
You can take two Bachelor courses and gain 15 ECTS during the Summer School at BI (at extra costs).

Fee info

EUR 740: Tuition fee
EUR 280: Social activities fee (mandatory)