It takes an enormous amount of courage and vulnerability to talk about and get curious about burnout. At its core, burnout actually reflects a very important set of primal human needs and wishes - safety, belonging, and dignity. Burnout is simply a response to overwhelming life experiences. An adaptive strategy to the underlying need for safety, slowing down, and a holding environment where all parts of oneself are welcome, seen, heard, and acknowledged.

In the realm of business success, optimal team performance lies primarily in problem-solving strategies and a deeper understanding of human nature. Listening to validate first is an important yet often overlooked leadership skill. Its influence lies not just in its capacity to generate solutions but in its ability to calm the nervous system and leverage clear thinking.