Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction In the last post, we talked about that moment when something sounds wrong—the face scrunch, the irritation, the immediate certainty that what you’re reading or hearing doesn’t hold up. The problem doesn’t stop with what you’re reacting to. It includes what you’re about to become if youContinue reading "Imprecision in Thought — Part 2 The Discipline of Not Being Part of the Problem"
Imprecision in Thought Part 1 When Something Sounds Wrong—But You Can’t Explain Why
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction Don’t ya just love those moments where you start out certain you know what to do, and then a quick pause to check that all systems are “go” gives you some unexpected clarity—and you realize you’re about to make a colossal blunder? Picture this—I’m wiling away aContinue reading "Imprecision in Thought Part 1 When Something Sounds Wrong—But You Can’t Explain Why"
You’re Part of the System Now: Burnout and Responsibility
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Some Final Thoughts on Burnout There’s a point in many high-stakes professional systems where the questions quietly shift. Early on, they tend to be personal:Why does this feel so hard? What’s happening to me? How do I get through this without losing something I can’t get back? That’sContinue reading "You’re Part of the System Now: Burnout and Responsibility"
When Burnout Isn’t About Stress or Recovery
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Alignment, Identity, and the Limits of Fixing What Doesn’t Fit In the last installment, we followed burnout past the point where it could reasonably be treated as a private problem. Once responsibility for others enters the picture, the effects are no longer contained. They show up in judgment,Continue reading "When Burnout Isn’t About Stress or Recovery"
When Burnout Stops Being a Private Problem
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction In the last installment, I argued that burnout matters to individuals in ways that are intuitively obvious, but that its broader significance is organizational. It changes what professionals contribute, and it changes how they influence, motivate, and inspire others. Left unnamed and unexamined, it erodes judgment, mentoring,Continue reading "When Burnout Stops Being a Private Problem"
And Now For Something Completely Different…
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction From time to time on this blog I will exercise “author’s prerogative” and deviate from what would otherwise be the expected/scheduled post topic. This post was planned to be the 3rd installment of the burnout series and for a variety of reasons, I didn’t particularly feel likeContinue reading "And Now For Something Completely Different…"
Burnout’s Quiet Damage: Why It Matters Before Anyone Breaks
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Introduction Burnout rarely announces itself with collapse. Most of the time, it arrives quietly—through gradually diminishing impact. Patience thins, and time isn't spent on the investment in curiosity and connection. Imagination contracts, and robust interactions to spur innovation are no longer sought. Fewer questions get asked. Fewer risksContinue reading "Burnout’s Quiet Damage: Why It Matters Before Anyone Breaks"
A Formula for Burnout
Paul M. Michaud MD, CPE In the book, Drive, Daniel Pink proposes that intrinsic motivation is the most powerful driver of human behavior, with purpose, mastery and autonomy as the primary intrinsic motivators. Purpose: The feeling of contributing to something larger. Mastery: The desire to improve skills. Autonomy: The freedom to direct one's own work. What happens whenContinue reading "A Formula for Burnout"
Burnout Is a Wastebasket Term — and That’s Why We Keep Treating It Wrong
Christopher J. Colombo MD, CEC, CMC, CPP Simplicity Is Seductive — and Dangerous “I’m burned out.” That sentence has become professional shorthand—an all-purpose signal for exhaustion, frustration, disillusionment, or quiet despair. It lands with emotional force and usually earns immediate empathy. And because it sounds definitive, we tend to treat it that way: problem named, response deployed.Continue reading "Burnout Is a Wastebasket Term — and That’s Why We Keep Treating It Wrong"
The fundamental attribution error and the antidote
Paul M. Michaud MD, CPE Too often, we attribute other people's poor behavior to their character, while attributing our poor behavior to external/situational factors. Reference previous link language here. Hanlon's razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by ______." While it is possible that the behavior you are observing is, in fact,Continue reading "The fundamental attribution error and the antidote"