Hitting rock bottom: The savage toll of burnout
by Andrew Wilford

PDF Mini Book: $4.95

Summary

Burnout, nervous breakdown, emotional collapse, mid-life crisis – or whatever you might like to call it – seems to be on the rise in Australian workplaces. Seemingly relentless pressure, high stakes and often higher expectations can take a savage toll on many of us.

Why is it that we seem to have no problem applying effective management regimes to maintain complex assets, such as aircraft, ships, power stations or major infrastructure, in order to limit stress and fatigue but we struggle to apply the same philosophies, systems and practices to ourselves?

My story sets out to show how you can use such systems in the human context to build resilience and enhance personal growth, and how, without certain personal maintenance procedures, you can reach the point of breakdown without understanding the warning signs and symptoms.

About the Author

Andrew WIlford

Andrew Wilford earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1986, graduating as an Engineering Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force. In the years since, he has had an exciting career in aviation and defence, during which time he has been involved with all types of military and commercial aircraft, ranging from F-111s to Boeing 747s.

In 2004, after a period of relentless pressure, Andrew ‘hit the wall’. And it was this experience of burnout and his ensuing recovery that allowed him to see work and life in a different light, yet still with the same energy and passion. His approach to life is more balanced these days and he ensures he finds quality time for his family, friends and his many diverse interests.

Today Andrew is passionate about integrating leadership, project management, engineering and knowledge management to improve business outcomes. In 2007, he was appointed an Associate Professor at Bond University, teaching in the area of Project Management. He is a founding officer of the International College of Complex Project Managers, a group determined to bring knowledge and leadership to into complex social, environmental and economic challenges.