The Burnout Crisis in Education: Supporting Our Empathic Educators

Since 2016, I have had the privilege of working closely with thousands of educators worldwide. One concerning trend that has emerged, particularly during the pandemic, is the alarming rate at which our most dedicated and caring educators are experiencing burnout. One school leader said it to me quite succinctly: “The teachers who care the most are burning out the fastest.” This phenomenon is a complex issue with multifaceted causes - ranging from person-level to systemic issues - and it's essential to understand why these educators are at such high risk. To truly address this crisis, we need to provide support at both the individual and systemic levels.

In this blog post, I'll explore the personal factors likely contributing to this burnout crisis and offer practical strategies to support these incredibly dedicated individuals who often prioritise the needs of others above their own.

‘The Empathic Educator’ & The Paradox of Care

Many of the qualities that make educators exceptional—empathy, understanding, and a commitment to their students' learning and wellbeing needs—can also contribute to burnout. These educators often go above and beyond to create positive and supportive learning environments, but their dedication can lead to overexertion and emotional exhaustion. 

My colleague Dr Rebecca Collie’s research uncovered a troubling pattern: Teachers who reported the highest levels of relatedness to their students at the start of the year reported the most significant decline in wellbeing by the end of the year. While their overall wellbeing remained higher than their peers, this steep decline raises serious concerns about burnout risk and long-term wellbeing.

This suggests that while strong initial connections are essential, maintaining them requires ongoing effort and support. It also highlights the need to explore the underlying factors that may make some educators more susceptible to burnout in the current climate of uncertainty and increasing pressures.

I believe personality type and individual characteristics may play a role in this phenomenon. By understanding the unique challenges faced by self-sacrificing, empathic educators, we can develop targeted strategies to support their wellbeing and prevent burnout.

Personality Type and Burnout Risk: Common Challenges Faced by Empathic Educators

Based on my experience working closely with educators and my understanding of the Enneagram - a deeply insightful, ancient personality framework - I have identified several common challenges faced by these self-sacrificing, empathic educators (see Type 2: 'The Helper'; Type 9: 'The Peacemaker'; & Type 7: 'The Enthusiast', specifically the social subtype known as 'Sacrifice'). These challenges include:

• People-Pleasing: The desire to please everyone can lead to overextension and resentment.

• Difficulty with Conflict: Avoiding confrontation to maintain harmony can lead to unresolved issues.

• Over-Empathy: Taking on the emotions of others too much can affect an educator's own wellbeing.

• Lack of Assertiveness: Struggling to express needs or set boundaries can contribute to burnout.

• Emotional Sensitivity: High sensitivity can make educators vulnerable to emotional overload.

• Highly optimistic: Unrealistic or overly-idealistic expectations can contribute to disappointment and frustration when reality doesn’t match up.

As the old adage goes, "Our greatest strengths can be our greatest weaknesses." It is a delicate balance: Empathy is essential for fostering strong student-teacher relationships and creating supportive classroom environments, but it must be tempered with self-awareness and healthy boundaries. Our desire to care for others can sometimes lead to neglecting our own needs, creating a cycle of burnout.

Supporting The Empathic Educators

To effectively address the burnout crisis among empathic educators, we must provide support at both the individual and systemic levels.

Individual Support

• Self-Care Training: Provide training on stress management, mindfulness, and other self-care techniques.

• Boundary Setting: Equip educators with strategies to set healthy boundaries and prioritise their own needs.

• Conflict Resolution Skills: Teach effective conflict resolution techniques to help educators navigate challenging situations with students, parents, and fellow educators.

• Emotional Regulation: Provide tools and strategies for managing emotional stress and preventing burnout.

• Personalised Coaching: Provide educators with tailored coaching to help them identify their strengths, habitual patterns, and areas for growth. This can include helping them challenge the deep-seated belief that their value is tied to their ability to help others, notice what triggers their people-pleasing or avoidance behaviours, and develop their self-compassion and innate self-worth.

Systemic Support

• Leadership Empathy: Foster a culture of empathy and understanding, recognising the unique challenges faced by empathic educators.

• Boundary Setting Support: Encourage and support educators in setting healthy boundaries and saying "no" when necessary.

• Reduced Workload: Streamline administrative tasks and provide additional resources to reduce teacher workload.

• Mentorship Programs: Pair experienced educators with newer teachers to provide guidance and support.

• Recognition and Appreciation: Actively acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of individual educators and teams.

The burnout crisis among empathic educators is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. By understanding the factors contributing to this crisis and providing the necessary support at both individual and systemic levels, we can help our dedicated educators thrive and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our students.

Are you an Empathic Educator?

If you are an Empathic Educator, what have your experiences been? Do the challenges described in this blog post resonate with you? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!

And if you are struggling with burnout yourself, we invite you to explore how ThriveWise's personalised coaching services can help you:

• Identify your Enneagram type to gain valuable insights into your strengths, challenges, and coping mechanisms.

• Develop strategies for self-care and stress management.

• Learn effective communication and conflict resolution skills.

• Set healthy boundaries and prioritise your own needs.

Want to learn more about how ThriveWise can support your wellbeing and help you thrive as an educator?