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MAIN QUESTION What can an organization leader do to support their team with compassion fatigue and burnout?

GUEST: Linda Harper is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and a partner in Consultants in Applied Psychology, specializing in cumulative grief, compassion fatigue and burnout. She is a consultant for the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association and a facilitator for its WINGS Pet Loss Support Group. She is also the author of four books including \u201cThe Power of Joy in Giving to Animals.\u201d

TAKEAWAYS

* Compassion fatigue can affect people in different ways, but the symptoms generally appear in three places: the body, the mind, and the soul, which Dr. Harper refers to as your innermost essence.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ Compassion fatigue in the body can manifest as generalized aches and pains, exhaustion, or getting sick frequently.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ In the mind, it reveals itself by negativity, crabbiness, being on edge. Or being sad, or more judgmental.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ In the soul, the big sign is an inability to enjoy life or escaping into food or drink.

* Take a proactive approach to compassion fatigue and burnout that includes everybody, not just the one or two you notice are struggling. The truth is everybody is struggling because animal welfare is hard on the heart and grief can build cumulatively.

* Leaders need to embrace the idea that there must be self-care and self-compassion to having a successful, healthy organization. To do this, leaders can:

\xa0 \xa0 ~ Model healthy behavior by taking time for themselves and not being a martyr.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ Set limits such as not overburdening staff.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ Make self-care part of the organization\u2019s values and practices \u2013 such as requiring that staff takes breaks and days off.

\xa0 \xa0 ~ Appoint someone to make sure staff feels valued, understood and supported \u2013like a safety monitor except for joy and balance. That person can be the go-to for resources for staff.

LINKS

* Dr. Linda Harper's website: https://www.drlindaharper.com

* Book: "The Power of Joy in Giving to Animals" by Linda Harper with foreward by Faith Maloney

* Webinar: "Compassionate Lifesaving: Taking Care of You and Your Team to Save More Animals" \u2014 Part 1 and Part 2

* Leadership recommendation: Canva\xa0

Recorded March 11, 2021