🔥 Burning Out? What Fuels the Fire at Work?

🎙️ Share, Inspire and Explore Podcast – Episode 09

Burnout isn’t just about being “too busy.” It’s about what’s burning you out.In this solo episode, host Chris Wilson dives deep into the hidden workplace dynamics that fuel burnout, long before anyone reaches the point of collapse.

From toxic cultures and unspoken expectations to emotional manipulation and leadership gaps,

Chris unpacks the systemic roots that make burnout a shared responsibility, not a personal failure.

Whether you’re an employee feeling the heat or a leader trying to understand what’s going wrong in your team, this episode offers clarity, validation, and a call for meaningful change.

🧠 In this episode:

• The real reasons people burn out at work

• Why overwork is often a symptom, not the cause

• How micromanagement, gaslighting & emotional labour play a role

• The importance of psychological safety & boundaries

• What organisations can do to prevent, not just treat, burnout

💡 Burnout is a mirror. And the workplace is often the reflection.

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⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses burnout, stress, and toxic workplace mental health struggles. Listener discretion advised.

💬 Got a question or your own burnout experience to share? Drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!

🌟 If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform, it helps more people find this content.

☕ Support Independent Content CreationIf this podcast or my content has helped you, consider supporting my work on Ko-fi. Every contribution helps cover hosting, editing, and the hours it takes to create meaningful mental health conversations.💛 Donate or subscribe here: https://ko-fi.com/whereimatcommunity

📝 Join the waiting list for our upcoming burnout support community: https://www.whereimatcommunity.com/community

Sources and references

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/313160/preventing-and-dealing-with-employee-burnout.aspx

https://www.spill.chat/burnout/burnout-causes

https://business.calm.com/resources/blog/is-work-overload-hurting-your-organizations-performance/

https://growthsignals.co/how-a-lack-of-autonomy-contributes-to-employee-burnout/

https://www.batimes.com/articles/5-effective-strategies-to-address-employee-burnout-in-an-organization/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4294456/https://www.greatplacetowork.ca/en/resources/blog/10-factors-that-lead-to-employee-burnout

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/burnout

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.623912/full

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_causes_of_burnout_at_work

https://www.drmichellerozen.com/burnout-risk-factors/

https://theantiburnoutclub.com/workplace-wellbeing-hub/

https://carelearning.org.uk/qualifications/level-2-mental-health/unit-02-stress/2-1-describe-possible-causes-of-stress/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

#burnoutprevention #mentalhealthatwork #toxicworkplace #workplacewellbeing #leadershipmatters #employeeburnout #burnoutpodcast #burnoutsupport #workplacementalhealth

Welcome to Part 2 of our powerful conversation with HR expert Martina Teufner on how HR can prevent burnout—not just manage it after the damage is done.

Picking up where Part 1 left off, this episode dives deeper into the how:

• How to balance business goals with employee wellbeing

• How to build trust and train leaders to recognise burnout

• And how to create a workplace culture that supports, not punishes, people who are struggling.

Martina and Chris also discuss the fear employees feel about speaking up, the cultural stigma around burnout, and why the future of prevention depends on honest conversations and flexible thinking.

🎯 Topics in Part 2:

• How HR can support flexibility without sacrificing performance

• Training managers to recognize early signs of burnout

• Leading by example, why leadership behaviour matters

• The danger of toxic silence and how to speak up safely

• Employee advocacy and policy change from the ground up

• What the future of burnout prevention could (and should) look like

📌 Missed Part 1? Go back and listen to learn about foundational burnout risks and why prevention starts with policy, not perks. https://youtu.be/PIEj6JIm534📣 Join the Conversation:Have you navigated burnout at work? Share your story in the comments or connect🌟 About Our Guest:Martina Teufner is an award-winning HR consultant and advocate for human-centric workplaces. Follow her on LinkedIn for insights into modern HR challenges.🔗 Connect with Martina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-teufner/⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses burnout, stress, and workplace mental health struggles. Listener discretion advised.💬 Got a question or your own burnout experience to share? Drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!🌟 If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform, it helps more people find this content.☕ Support me on Ko-fi: [https://ko-fi.com/whereimatcommunity]📝 Join the waiting list for our upcoming burnout support community: https://www.whereimatcommunity.com/community#BurnoutRecovery #HRStrategies #MentalHealthInTheWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopment #BurnoutAwareness #HRTraining #ShareInspireExplorePodcast

HR’s Role in Burnout Prevention (Part 1) | Workplace Culture, Flexibility & Red Flags

Description:

Burnout isn’t just an employee problem, it’s a workplace systems problem. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, HR expert Martina Teufner joins host Chris Wilson to explore the real role HR should play in preventing burnout before it begins.Martina shares insights from over 12 years in HR, revealing what actually works when it comes to workplace mental health, and what doesn’t. They explore how rigid structures, outdated leadership, and lack of policy transparency all contribute to burnout, and how flexible work and real conversations are key to prevention.🎯 Topics in Part 1: • Why HR should prioritize burnout prevention • The red flags your company is missing • Work-life balance vs. work-life blending • Flexible work and why it matters more than free yoga • The real cost of ignoring emotional wellbeing • Why clear policies and manager training are non-negotiable📣 Join the Conversation:Have you navigated burnout at work? Share your story in the comments or connect🌟 About Our Guest:Martina Teufner is an award-winning HR consultant and advocate for human-centric workplaces. Follow her on LinkedIn for insights into modern HR challenges.🔗 Connect with Martina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-teufner/⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses burnout, stress, and workplace mental health struggles. Listener discretion advised.💬 Got a question or your own burnout experience to share? Drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!🌟 If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform—it helps more people find this content.☕ Support me on Ko-fi: [https://ko-fi.com/whereimatcommunity]📝 Join the waiting list for our upcoming burnout support community: https://www.whereimatcommunity.com/community#burnoutrecovery #mentalhealthatwork #hrleadership #burnoutpodcast #workplacewellbeing #psychologicalsafety #burnoutsupport #peopleandculture #ShareInspireExplore #burnout