The first red flag of burnout: Chronic exhaustion

A bit like a candle burning down, burnout is a slow burn. It doesn’t happen overnight. That’s one of the challenges in spotting it. But learning to identify the early-stage signs helps us reduce the chances of burnout going undetected. There are three red flags that leaders can look out for in themselves and in…

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An interview with Michael Lee Stallard, global expert on the power of connection – and why it’s fundamental for your leadership practice

When you meet a globally renowned expert on connection and leadership and find that you connect immediately… Well, I reckon that’s a great start! That’s how I felt when I met Michael Lee Stallard last week over Zoom. He practices what he preaches. Our conversation was full of warmth, connection, humour and passion about the…

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The Key Insights from my RACS19 Presentations

There’s nothing like speaking to a bunch of surgeons to get you outside of your comfort zone. That’s just what I did last week when I delivered three talks, including a keynote on Women in Leadership at the RACS19 (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) conference in Bangkok. As one of only a handful of non-surgeon…

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What to do with burnout

In my last blog post I talked about my personal experience with burnout, and how to identify it – in ourselves, and in team members.  However, acknowledging and accepting burnout is only half the battle in conquering it. Burnout is insidious, and if left unchecked, it can surreptitiously erode our health, well-being and general ability to function at full…

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My journey from burnout to wholeheartedness

In the not too distant past, I would wake up most mornings with rocks in my stomach. As I thought about facing the day ahead, the rocks would grow wings and thump about like gargoyles, wreaking havoc with my nerves. Although I did not recognise it at the time, I was suffering from burnout.* Stressed…

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