Burnout is affecting all of us in record numbers. The 2021 Workplace Burnout Study, a global survey of more than 3,000 people in over 30 countries, reported a burnout rate of nearly 35% of all workers.
Within this vast malaise sits the American man. The impact of burnout on men in American culture is unique and complicated. In our culture, men have been raised to believe that they should be able to handle everything life throws at them without any help—they should just “Man Up!” Their socialization tells them that burnout is not an option–not if you’re a real man. It’s simply too shameful for a man to be burned out.
At the same time, men are still overwhelmingly in charge of defining the workplace cultures that are a primary cause of burnout. To break out of this harmful cycle, we must deal with some fundamental changes. Importantly, the path out of burnout requires an expansive approach that contemplates not only our relationship with work, but also the connections we need outside of the workplace. One such path is “expansive intimacy,” a time-tested way for men to achieve a happier life–without giving up what makes them successful as men.
In his new book, Expansive Intimacy: How “Tough Guys” Defeat Burnout, executive coach and speaker, Jim Young takes a bold and deep look at the forces that have locked men into unhealthy patterns. Through a blend of research and stories, including many of his own, Jim vulnerably and scientifically normalizes the challenges men face in modern society. He offers a previously unexplored roadmap that leads men into the fulfilling lives that society’s default rules for men have failed to deliver.
“As I began writing this book, I realized that I was attempting to take on some big topics. It’s a project that unearthed a difficult revelation that told me I had struck a root cause of men’s burnout,” Jim Young states.
Jim divides Expansive Intimacy into three parts: The Dilemma of Men’s Burnout; The Double Bind of Shame; and Bringing Expansive Intimacy into our Lives. He delves into topics such as:
- Shining a Light on Burnout
- Insidious Bedfellows
- Shame as a Barrier to Intimacy
- Defining Expansive Intimacy
- A Range of Intimacies
- The Power of Risk
This book may tend to resonate most with men, since their experiences are more closely aligned with Jim’s. Nonetheless, Jim believes that people of all genders will find his book useful. For readers with different life circumstances, Jim intends for the lessons contained in these pages to be as inclusive as possible. In particular, Jim focuses on helping people who run a business eradicate burnout. Not only can he empathize with the pressures of that job, but he also understands the power leaders have to create positive impact at the systemic level. And ultimately, he knows that you can’t grow and sustain a thriving business when burnout is present.
“Modern work culture has evolved to a point where burnout and shame are expected outcomes. We need strong leaders to make bold stands to show others that their humanity matters most.”
You will not find prescriptions in the book, because there is no “one size fits all” solution for the complex dilemma of burnout. But if you’re ready to create lasting, positive change in your life, Jim has offered a way forward. It’s called Expansive Intimacy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jim Young is an executive coach who works with leaders to root out the burnout in their lives and their businesses. His personal mission is to help men–and organizations–defeat burnout. Whether coaching a corporate leader, guiding a team through deep discovery, or giving a talk to a large audience, Jim activates audiences and creates powerful learning environments via a potent blend of grounded expert research, his experience as a corporate executive, and his background as an improv comedian.
After graduating from the UMass Isenberg School of Management, Jim embarked on a 25-year career in the ranks of corporate leadership. After enduring an extended period of burnout, Jim took the leap and started the business of his dreams in 2018. Through extensive training–via the Coaches Training Institute and the Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence program, among others–he has built a thriving practice working with individuals, teams, and organizations to help them create better relationships and organizational cultures.
EXPANSIVE INTIMACY: How “Tough Guys” Defeat Burnout By Jim Young New Degree Press/September 2023 979-8-88504-563-6 Paperback / $18.99 979-8-88504-679-4 Ebook / $4.00 You can learn more about Jim at www.thecenteredcoach.com
