What vicious cycle is exacerbated if the symptom of Performance Wanes is not monitored closely?

Reduced performance leads to stress about performance, which exacerbates exhaustion, further fueling cynicism.

Reduced efficacy, or performance waning, is critical to monitor because it directly feeds into a self-perpetuating negative feedback loop indicative of deepening burnout. When an individual notices that their output or quality of work is subtly declining—that they are working harder but achieving less—this realization itself generates significant stress regarding their professional competence and job security. This newly generated performance-related stress adds to the existing load, which in turn deepens the underlying physical and emotional exhaustion. Since exhaustion is a primary fuel source for cynicism and detachment, the lowered performance ultimately contributes to further cynicism, making it harder for the individual to muster the mental clarity needed to improve performance, thus completing and reinforcing the destructive cycle.