Burnout Risk
Assessment

ASSESSMENT & DISCOVERY TOOLS

An 18-item self-assessment for identifying the patterns
that lead to burnout before they become a crisis.

What This Assessment Does

Most leaders who are burning out do not recognize it as burnout. They describe it as being busy, behind, responsible, or under pressure. The symptoms — exhaustion that sleep does not fix, the inability to disengage from work mentally, difficulty saying no even when the cost is obvious — tend to be framed as features of the job, not signals about the person in it.

This assessment surfaces those signals in a structured way. The 18 items cover the behavioral and psychological patterns most consistently associated with burnout risk: cognitive overload, boundary erosion, physical neglect, and the belief that everything depends on doing it yourself. None of these items in isolation is alarming. The pattern across all 18 is what this tool is designed to reveal.

Most leaders score differently than they expect. Some rate themselves lower risk than the reality of their daily experience would suggest — because they have normalized the symptoms. Others rate themselves higher, which is useful data about how they are experiencing their situation regardless of external indicators.

Complete the assessment honestly, not aspirationally. The score is most useful when it reflects current experience, not the standard you are working toward.

How to Use This Assessment

  1. Rate each statement based on your experience over the past 30 days. Do not answer based on how things used to be or how you hope they will be.
  2. Respond with your first honest reaction — not the answer that reflects best on you professionally.
  3. Review each response without calculating a risk category.
  4. Identify the specific statements that need attention; the pattern and context matter more than a total.
  5. Bring this completed assessment to your next coaching session. The items you responded to most strongly are the starting point.

Coaching Scope

This coaching reflection tool is not therapy, diagnosis, or medical care. Do not use it to diagnose or treat a condition. Use a licensed health professional for symptoms or clinical decisions. For immediate danger, contact emergency services; in the United States, call or text 988, and elsewhere use the local crisis service.

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Burnout Risk Assessment

Rate each statement based on your experience over the past 30 days.

# Statement SA A N D SD
1 I have little or no control over my work life.
2 I feel anxious or stressed at work most of the time.
3 I no longer have hobbies or personal interests outside of work.
4 Family members or close friends have complained about my unavailability.
5 I rarely take breaks during the workday.
6 I often eat at my desk or while working.
7 I frequently feel overwhelmed by my workload.
8 I have not taken a full vacation in over a year.
9 I feel guilty when I am not working or being productive.
10 I often feel exhausted, even after a full night of sleep.
11 I think about work even when I am supposed to be relaxing.
12 I find it very difficult to say no to additional responsibilities.
13 I consistently work longer hours than I intend to.
14 I struggle to take care of my own health and basic needs.
15 My workspace and tasks feel disorganized or out of control.
16 I feel like I have to do everything myself — I cannot delegate.
17 I procrastinate on important tasks even when the deadline is near.
18 I feel the need to constantly prove my value or worth at work.

SA = Strongly Agree    A = Agree    N = Neutral    D = Disagree    SD = Strongly Disagree

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Scoring & Reflection

Reflection note: Do not calculate or interpret a low, moderate, or high burnout score. This is not a validated burnout instrument. Review the specific responses and seek qualified health support for persistent symptoms.

Items I responded most strongly to (Strongly Agree):
What I notice about the pattern:

Before Your Next Session

Look at the items you rated Strongly Agree. Pick the one that feels most within your control to change. What is one concrete adjustment — in behavior, structure, or expectation — that you could make in the next two weeks? What has been stopping you from making it?

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Tandem Coaching Partners

Credentialed coaches with real-world leadership experience, partnering with executives and organizations to unlock sustainable growth.

Consultation

tandemcoach.co/
contact-us

Email

info@tandemcoach.co

Phone

855 51 COACH

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