Episode 318: How to Talk to Your Boss About Burnout The Right Way
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In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin dives into one of the most universal—and most misunderstood—workplace realities: burnout. Erin breaks down exactly how to talk to your boss about burnout the right way without spiraling, sugarcoating, or shoving your feelings into a mental junk drawer.
Through candid personal stories and practical, psychology-backed strategies, this episode sheds light on why burnout happens, how to spot it early, and how to communicate your needs with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Erin helps you turn overwhelm into ownership, frustration into forward motion, and exhaustion into empowered conversation.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in deadlines, worried about disappointing your team, or afraid that naming burnout will make you look weak, this episode will help you reframe, reset, and rise.
The Stakes Are Lower Than They Feel
Burnout feels big, heavy, and high-stakes—but most conversations about it aren’t life-or-death. Erin breaks down why acknowledging burnout reduces pressure, strengthens trust, and opens the door to real support.
Humor Eases the Heat
Talking about burnout doesn’t have to feel clinical or crushing. Erin shares how embracing levity helps you express what’s true, stay grounded, and turn hard moments into helpful ones.
Seek the Silver Linings
Burnout isn’t a failure—it’s feedback. Learn how to interpret it with curiosity, spot the lesson within the stress, and build self-awareness that fuels emotional intelligence.
Communication Creates Connection
From naming what you need to proposing solutions, Erin equips you with scripts and strategies to have meaningful, productive conversations with your boss—conversations rooted in clarity, empathy, and ownership.
Proactive Problem-Solving Is Leadership
Burnout doesn’t disappear with a deep breath. Erin shows you how offering solutions, setting boundaries, and asking for support can skyrocket collaboration, trust, and team wellness.
Your Play Challenge
This week, instead of muscling through burnout, press pause and ask:
“What is my burnout trying to tell me—and what’s one solution I can propose?”
Let yourself name the need, speak the truth, and watch how your capacity shifts.
You’ve tried the Slack hacks, rewriting the meeting agendas, and promised yourself you’d protect your team’s time. But somehow hybrid work still feels like an endless game of communication ping-pong. More messages, more overwhelm.
Enter The Remote Leader’s Reset: your 5-step guide to lowering the noise, resetting expectations, and helping your team finally exhale. These simple, human-centered resets will help you reduce friction, create clarity, and make your people feel seen—no matter where they’re working from.
Download it here.
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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