Engagement Paradox: The Stress Behind Highly Engaged Employees

Shah Mohammed
5 min readFeb 28, 2024

In today’s modern workplaces, employee engagement stands as a cornerstone of organizational success, embodying a workforce’s commitment, passion, and alignment with organizational goals. It represents more than just job satisfaction; it’s about the emotional connection and investment employees have in their work and their organization’s mission.

However, within the realm of employee engagement lies a paradox that often goes unnoticed: the phenomenon of highly engaged employees experiencing stress and burnout despite their unwavering commitment. On the surface, high levels of engagement may seem like a positive indicator of a healthy workplace culture. After all, engaged employees are enthusiastic, motivated, and deeply invested in their roles.

Yet, beneath this facade of enthusiasm often lurks a darker reality. Despite their dedication, highly engaged employees can find themselves trapped in a cycle of stress and burnout, perpetuated by the very factors that drive their engagement. Their commitment to excellence, coupled with mounting expectations and…

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