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HBR IdeaCast

Generosity Burnout

Jan 28, 2017
Senior leaders Brad Feld, Sarah Robb O’Hagan, Mike Ghaffary, Heidi Roizen, and John Rogers Jr. discuss burning out on giving, the techniques they use to avoid it, and how they recognize it in their employees. Topics include navigating boundaries in generosity, preventing burnout, managing generosity burnout in the workplace and personal life, and techniques for setting boundaries and managing burnout.
20:24

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Establish boundaries to prevent generosity burnout and protect oneself from harm while helping others.
  • Giving must be balanced with setting limits, communicating boundaries, and fostering team support to enhance impact.

Deep dives

Generosity Burnout: Understanding the Costs of Overgiving

Being overly selfless and generous can lead to generosity burnout according to Adam Grant and Reb Reboli's research. Givers must establish boundaries to avoid depleting themselves and harming those they aim to help. Brad Feld, a giver who experienced burnout, learned the importance of setting limits after facing a depressive episode following continuous overextending of his giving nature.

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