Burnout doesn’t just come from what gets said. It also comes from how it’s said. This is the second in my five-part series, “Be Careful What You Say (and Hear),” where we’re exploring the quiet, everyday ways language shapes our stress, our self-worth, and our sense of safety. Today we’re talking about tone, which is…
Burnout doesn’t just come from tasks. It comes from language — spoken, unspoken, internalized — in both corporate life and personal life. The words we hear, absorb, and even speak ourselves, carry weight. They shape how we perceive our worth, how safe we feel in our environments, and how much emotional labor we expend just…
You’re in a meeting. The VP leans forward and says, “We need to synergize our verticals to leverage efficiencies and drive outcomes.” Half the room nods solemnly. The other half is wondering if they’re supposed to know what any of that actually means — and it’s entirely possible the nodders don’t, either. “Corporate speak” is…
You’ve heard the stories: a department wiped out overnight, hundreds of jobs gone, and a shiny new AI platform quietly rolled in to “boost efficiency.” You might even be living that story yourself. Yes, AI is replacing people. But here’s the truth no press release will say out loud: It’s not because you “couldn’t keep…
You sat down to work… and stared blankly at the screen. Again. There are emails to answer, meetings to prep for, deadlines looming—but your brain feels like it’s buffering. Your body’s in the chair, but everything else? Nowhere near ready. And somewhere deep down, a thought slinks in: “Maybe I’m just lazy.” Or even “Maybe…