Jennifer Moss, an award-winning journalist and author focused on workplace well-being, discusses the pervasive issue of burnout and its misconceptions. She emphasizes that self-care alone won’t solve burnout and highlights the power of curiosity and empathy in leadership. By fostering genuine conversations, like asking for highs and lows, leaders can better understand their teams. Additionally, Moss advocates for healthy dissent to combat confirmation bias and build trust through vulnerability, crucial for creating a supportive and effective workplace.
36:50
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Burnout Definition
Burnout is workplace stress left unmanaged, according to the World Health Organization.
It's characterized by disengagement, exhaustion, and cynicism.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Self-Care Isn't Enough
Self-care alone won't cure burnout, especially in unhealthy work environments.
Address organizational issues like overwork and lack of support for true change.
insights INSIGHT
Empathy's Role
Empathy is a crucial leadership skill for reducing burnout.
Leaders must understand what motivates and harms employees' sense of purpose.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
Keith Ferrazzi
In 'Never Eat Alone,' Keith Ferrazzi shares his insights on networking and relationship-building, emphasizing the importance of genuine connections and mutual success. The book outlines specific steps and an inner mindset for connecting with others, highlighting principles such as generosity, constant communication, and reciprocity without keeping score. Ferrazzi draws from his own experiences and those of highly connected individuals to provide practical advice on handling rejection, attending events, and maintaining long-lasting connections in both personal and professional settings.
The Burnout Epidemic
Jennifer Moss
In *The Burnout Epidemic*, Jennifer Moss explores the root causes of burnout and offers actionable advice for leaders to create healthier workplaces. The book critiques traditional wellness initiatives and advocates for organizational-level solutions to combat chronic stress, highlighting the need for employers to take a proactive role in preventing burnout.
Unlocking Happiness at Work
Shawn Achor
Jennifer Moss
Jennifer Moss: The Burnout Epidemic
Jennifer Moss is an award-winning journalist, author, and international public speaker. She is a nationally syndicated radio columnist, reporting on topics related to happiness and workplace well-being. She is also a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in HuffPost, Forbes, the Society for Human Resource Management, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review.
Jennifer’s prior book, Unlocking Happiness at Work, received the distinguished UK Business Book of the Year Award. She also sits on the Global Happiness Council. She is the author of The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It*.
In this conversation, Jennifer and I explore a few misconceptions about burnout — and also how curiosity and empathy can help to reduce it. We discuss a few key questions leaders can ask to gain insight on how to help. Plus, we detail how to avoid confirmation bias through generic interactions.
Key Points
Self-care doesn’t cure burnout.
Curiosity increases empathy — and empathy from leaders is a fabulous antidote to burnout.
There are two kinds of curiosity, epistemic and perceptual. True empathy comes from a focus on epistemic interactions.
Go beyond the generic, “How are you?” and instead get more specific with a request like, “Name a high — and a low.” Doing these with a team can help surface how to help.
Assume the best. It’s ok to say, “Thank you for sharing this with me. I don’t have any advice. I just want to listen and learn.”
Resources Mentioned
The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It* by Jennifer Moss
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404)
What to Do With Your Feelings, with Lori Gottlieb (episode 438)
Leadership Means You Go First, with Keith Ferrazzi (episode 488)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.
Coaching for Leaders 
