Burnout Recovery: Strategies for Professionals

Quick announcement for loyal listeners: after publishing every week since September 2021, I’m shifting the podcast’s cadence. Going forward, episodes will drop only when there’s something genuinely impactful and possibly contrarian to share. Fewer episodes, higher signal — same commitment to depth.This episode explains the change, why it matters for you as a leader, and how it frees space for me to focus on new projects and coaching. If you’re here for in-depth leadership analysis, understanding stress patterns, or creating real career and personal change, nothing changes — the bar just went up.Also, if you’ve been considering coaching, this is a prime window: this phase gets my best attention and newest thinking.Key takeaways:Consistency has value, but signal matters more than cadence.Fewer, high-impact episodes allow deeper thinking and better content.Leadership development is ongoing — this podcast will continue to provide insight, analysis, and practical guidance.Coaching is available now for those ready to engage.Call to action:Stay connected: https://dexrandall.comReach out if you’re considering coaching — now is a great time.Sign-off: “Keep leading with intention. Keep doing good. Until next time.”Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

January optimism fades fast.Goals wobble. Energy drops. And that familiar voice shows up: “I should be further along by now.”In this episode, Dex explores why high-achieving leaders often get stuck leading from the Gap — measuring themselves against a moving ideal — and how shifting to the Gain changes performance, energy, and impact without relying on willpower.This is a grounded conversation about leadership, not a hype-up.In this episodeWhat “the Gap” is and why high performers live thereHow self-criticism quietly drains leadership energyWhat “the Gain” looks like in real leadership, not theoryWhy progress fuels motivation better than pressureSimple ways to refocus when the Gap shows up at workWho this is forLeaders and professionals who are capable, driven, and respected — yet tired of being hard on themselves as a performance strategy.Prompts to use with Dex AI to create more GAINs at https://app.coachvox.ai/share/DexRandallHelp me reframe my mistakes this week so I can turn them into leadership wins.Help me see why I'm feeling exhausted and not enough this week.What patterns am I repeating that are keeping me stuck in the gap right now?List five gains I can notice in my leadership this week, even small ones, and explain why they matter.Refs:The Gap and The Gain, Dan SullivanSend us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

Every leader has blind spots. Not because they’re careless or incompetent — but because they’re human.In this episode, Dex shares a formative leadership mistake from early in his career and uses it to unpack how beliefs, biases, and unexamined assumptions quietly shape leadership decisions. Often at a cost.You’ll explore why blind spots exist, how they show up under pressure, and the practical signals that tell you when one is running the show. Dex also explains why self-awareness alone isn’t enough — and how coaching (human and AI) can help you see what you literally cannot see on your own.This is about leadership maturity, not self-criticism.In this episode:A real leadership succession mistake — and the lesson it taughtWhy beliefs quietly limit leadership optionsHow bias forms early and becomes invisibleCommon leadership blind spots (imposter syndrome, people problems, indecision, perfectionism)Why emotional reactivity is often the clueHow coaching helps rewire outdated beliefsWhere AI coaching helps — and where it doesn’tPractical AI prompts to surface blind spots fastPractical prompts mentioned:“What am I not seeing in this situation?”“How can I identify my leadership blind spots?”“What’s an effective next step with this team member?”“How can I resolve this conflict without sacrificing my deadlines?”Resources:Dex AI Coach: https://dexrandall.comLeadership coaching with Dex: https://go.dexrandall.com/leadershipIf leadership feels heavier than it should right now, this episode will help you loosen the grip — without losing authority.Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

If you’re back at work and already quietly overloaded — you’re not broken.January often pretends everything resets, while your nervous system, responsibilities, and expectations clearly don’t.In this episode, Dex explores why high-performing leaders don’t need new goals, more effort, or a “new you” — they need a new standard.Drawing on Dan Sullivan’s concepts of The Gap and The Gain and 10x thinking, this episode reframes overwhelm, pressure, and ambition — and shows how leadership energy is restored by raising standards, not expectations.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why January motivation often collapses — and why that’s not a failureThe difference between goals, standards, and unrealistic idealsHow unexamined standards quietly drain leadersWhy burnout isn’t about caring too much — but outgrowing old rulesHow to move from The Gap to The Gain in everyday leadershipWhat real 10x leadership looks like (and what it isn’t)The one question to ask in your first week back at workThis episode is for leaders who want high performance without self-betrayal — and results that don’t cost their health, relationships, or joy.Next step: And if you'd like personal guidance on 10x-ing your leadership, learn more at:https://go.dexrandall.com/leadershipSend us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

This Christmas Day episode is a quieter, more reflective conversation about leadership that actually works — especially in high-pressure environments like healthcare.Dex is joined by Dr Joshua Hartzell, retired US Army Colonel, physician, and author of A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership.Josh has spent 25 years in military medicine and leadership training. His message is simple and deeply relevant at this time of year:Take care of your people. They will take care of the mission.In this episode, we talk about:Why caring leadership is not “soft” — it’s effectiveWhat military leadership gets right about standards and supportBurnout as a leadership systems issue, not a personal failureWhy psychological safety improves outcomesHow small human interactions create powerful ripple effectsIf you’re a leader who genuinely cares — but feels stretched thin — this conversation will meet you where you are.Resources:A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSQ4276KDr Joshua Hartzell  https://joshuahartzellmd.com/Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

Most leaders think they need authority to act — but real leadership begins when you give yourself permission to move. In this episode, we explore how to drop imagined judgement, stop waiting for endorsement, and step into decisive, high-impact leadership.What we cover:Drop the "hairy eyeball"Own your authority instead of waiting for itAnchor in your highest-value contributionGive yourself the green lightExperiment and iterate without perfectionReflect on impact — not opinionMini-Exercises You Can Use Today: • Ask: “Is this judgement real or imagined?” • Declare: “I lead here.” • Identify the two highest-impact actions this week. • Affirm: “I have my own back.” • Take one imperfect action. • Measure value by outcome, not applause.Uplevel your answers with Dex AIYour confidential, expert leadership performance coach. Key message: Permission doesn’t come from outside you. Authority is something you inhabit.If you’d like personal guidance applying these practices so your leadership becomes natural, confident, and self-backed — book a conversation with me:https://mini.dexrandall.comSend us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

In this episode, I share a personal story about leading from behind in a small, entrepreneurial tech team. The team was fragmented, underperforming, and in constant conflict with other departments — a quiet war in full swing.I walk through how I:Connected with each team member to understand strengths, weaknesses, and ambitionsStabilised fragile IT systems and workflows without fanfareBuilt trust, morale, and cross-team collaboration quietlyTurned invisible leadership into tangible resultsWe also explore practical reflection questions and steps any leader can use to reduce friction, unite teams, and lead with high impact while keeping stress low.Takeaways include:How to lead invisibly and effectivelyBuilding trust and psychological safety in a small teamPractical tactics for smoothing friction and improving collaborationReflection prompts to assess your current leadership challengesActionable next step:Try asking Dex AI Coach:“How can I reduce team friction today?”“How can I unite my team in shared purpose?”“How do I lead from behind instead of pushing from the front?”Even a quick session can reveal actionable leverage points and reduce your day-to-day stress as a leader.Resources mentioned:Creativity, Inc. by Ed CatmullSend us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

Summary In this episode, we break the spell of the “lone wolf” identity — the myth that high performers must grind alone, stay stoic, and win through self-sacrifice. We explore why this model silently burns people out, why it’s collapsing as a leadership archetype, and what replaces it: inner partnership, genuine support, and a way of working that restores energy instead of draining it.What We Cover – How the lone-wolf philosophy sneaks into high-stakes careers – The quiet suffering that looks like competence from the outside – Why burnout isn’t weakness — it’s a loyalty problem (too loyal to the wrong rules) – The emotional toll of being “the one who always holds it together” – The cultural lie that self-reliance is noble – How isolation becomes self-attack – The moment a leader realises they’re exhausted because they’ve been the strong one – What replacing the lone-wolf identity actually looks like – How inner solidarity becomes fuel, power, and clarity – Practical questions to shift from isolation to supportKey Takeaway Burnout thrives where connection dies. The lone wolf doesn’t fall because he's weak — he falls because he’s alone. Real strength comes from restoring partnership: with yourself, with others, and with the life you actually want to lead.Try This – Ask yourself: “Where am I still trying to do everything alone?” (Ask Dex AI to help you solve it) – Identify one area where support is overdue. – Let one person in. – Notice how your system settles when you stop carrying everything solo.Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

In this conversation, we go straight into the territory most professionals tiptoe around: intuition, subtle energy, the “inner signals” you’ve been trained to ignore since childhood.I talk about why Western culture is so committed to denial, how that denial fuels burnout, and why your quiet inner nudges are often the most honest, helpful guidance you’ll ever get.We cover everything from witches and shamans, to Victorian emotional repression, to the modern addiction cycle… and yes, the moments in my own life when intuition slammed into me like a freight train.This isn’t about superstition—it’s about reconnection. Tuning back in to yourself, to others, and to the deeper stream of intelligence running through all of us.If you’ve been feeling disconnected, numb, over-stimulated, secretly exhausted, or like you’re living 10cm to the left of your actual life… this one’s for you.In This EpisodeWhy so many smart, capable adults are terrified of their own intuitionThe cultural training that teaches us to ignore our inner signalsHow denial and addiction quietly build modern burnoutWhy meditation and yoga don’t “fix” burnout unless you stop overriding your inner voiceHow loneliness dismantles your nervous systemStories from my own life of intuitive “hits”—the kind that make you question everythingHow subtle energy shows up in healing workWhy reconnecting with yourself is the foundation of real leadershipHow burnout recovery gives you back your early dreams—the ones you quietly shelvedWhat it takes to step into the “bigger you” you’ve been resistingKey TakeawaysIntuition isn’t fringe. It’s human.Suppressing your inner experience creates anxiety, addiction, and burnout.Reconnection—not productivity hacks—is what heals you.Your inner voice is rarely wrong. You’re just out of the habit of trusting it.Burnout is a transformation process. It pushes you back into contact with the parts of yourself you’ve been avoiding.The dreams you abandoned still matter. They’re signals, not fantasies.When you stop running from yourself, your life stops running from you.If You’re Ready to Get Your Mojo BackIf you want support reconnecting with yourself, healing burnout, and stepping into the version of you that actually feels like you—book a time with me at:https://mini.dexrandall.comLet’s map out what your next chapter could look like.Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links

You will discover what ChatGPT says are the essential skills and practices needed for professional burnout recovery.I review ChatGPT's suggestions, enhancing them with my own insights from 10,000 client sessions. You will learn the importance of deep self-awareness, stress management, emotional resilience, and setting boundaries, in the context of your own personality and experiences. Then compare it with the general advice offered by large language models.Finally, I'll introduce Dex AI Coach, a personalized AI tool trained on my own successful methods, offering personalised responses for those battling burnout.If this sparks your curiosity, I encourage you to try Dex AI Coach (link below) — it's private, expert, and free. I've trained it on my methods, so it can help you reduce stress in minutes. My clients are loving it.Send us a text----------------------------------- Resources:Start 1-on-1 coaching at https:/mini.dexrandall.comLead Better with Dex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Solve problems fast.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexburnoutcoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links