Let’s play a game: which of these managers is most likely to burnout? You have five choices:
- The one who rates high on
openness
- (e.g., creative, curious)
- The one who rates high on
conscientiousness
- (e.g., organized, efficient)
- The one who rates high on
extroversion
- (e.g., outgoing, energetic)
- The one who rates high on
agreeableness
- (e.g., friendly, empathetic)
- The one who rates high on
neuroticism
- (e.g., anxious, moody).
If you guessed neuroticism, you win! After comparing personality as measured by the NEO-FFI and burnout as measured by the Maslach-burnout inventory of 170 managers, the authors of the present study found that those with high levels of neuroticism were pessimistic, tired, and ineffective, while those with high levels of extroversion were optimistic, energetic, and efficient.