Leaders in crisis: A comparative study of for-profit and non-profit organizations leaders regarding “burnout”

Abstract

The article is summary of the author’s MA thesis prepared for graduation at the Semmelweis Medical University (SOTE-MI) in 2010. In the focus of the original research the vulnerability from potential professional “burnout” was placed, specific for two target groups of organizational leader were places, whereas one working in the for-profit (business) sector, as compared to peers working in the non- profit (civil) sector, both surveyed in the combination of personal (qualitative) interviews and by the means structured questionnaires. The present article summarizes the main results and lessons learned from the qualitative approach, in highlighting the fact that both target groups are equally exposed to a host of work stressors conducive to professional “burnout”, yet the risk of their harming effects could be prevented and counterbalanced by building into the organizational environment specific protective factors, most importantly into the context of every-day work.