In #LeanManagement, we often talk about the Eight Wastes—from #transportation and #inventory to #overproduction and #defects - that reduce efficiency and drain resources. But what if we applied this same thinking to the way we work and manage our energy?

In this episode, I explore how the “Eight Wastes” framework can be reimagined through the lens of the #JobDemands–Resources (#JDR) model. What happens when unnecessary #bureaucracy becomes “motion waste”? Or when excessive #deadlines act as “overproduction waste” that slowly drains our #motivation?

By drawing analogies between classic process inefficiencies and #psychological strain in the #workplace, we can uncover new ways to reduce #stress, prevent #burnout, and create healthier, more resilient #organisations.

Join me as I bridge the world of #Lean thinking with the human side of work—and discover how eliminating “#muda” can help us not only streamline processes but also protect our most important resource: employee energy.

In this episode, I challenge the traditional “magic triangle” of process management - time, cost, and quality—by proposing a fourth, often overlooked dimension: employee energy.

We’re used to balancing speed, budget, and outcomes. But what if burnout, stress, and emotional exhaustion are the real factors slowing down your processes? Drawing on the JD-R model (Job Demands–Resources), I explore how integrating psychological and physiological resources into the classic triangle creates a more realistic, sustainable “magic tetrahedron.”

From delayed projects and rising costs to declining motivation and quality, emotional energy has direct consequences for every key business metric. And it’s time we treated it as a core resource, not just an HR afterthought.

Join me as I connect project management theory with human-centred insights - bridging operational logic with emotional intelligence.

🎧 Tune in and let’s rethink how we manage performance- together.

#burnout #employeewellbeing #processmanagement #projectmanagement #leadership #jdRmodel #workplaceculture #energyatwork #psychologicalsafety #magictriangle #podcast #emotionalintelligence

In this episode, I explore how a classic concept from operations - the Theory of Constraints - can help us better understand and manage emotional exhaustion in the workplace.

The central idea? Just like a production process is only as fast as its slowest step, our mental and emotional energy is limited by the most draining tasks in our day. So what if we could identify the specific moments, meetings, or tasks that wear us out the most—our emotional bottlenecks?

Drawing on Goldratt’s foundational work, I walk through how this theory can be adapted to workplace wellbeing. I also tackle some key challenges:

• How do emotions spill over between employees?

• Why is simply “moving the problem” unethical?

• What does the "Eat That Frog" rule get wrong when it comes to mental health?

We’ll look at tools like interviews, observation, and intuitive reflection to pinpoint those draining moments—and explore how to design more sustainable workdays without pushing people to the edge.

Whether you're a leader, a coach, or someone simply trying to manage your energy better, this episode offers a practical lens for viewing burnout through the eyes of process thinking.

#burnout #emotionalexhaustion #theoryofconstraints #mentalhealthatwork #employeeexperience #workplacewellbeing #processmanagement #leadership #emotionalintelligence #jobdemands #managementpodcast #productivity #eatthatfrog #podcast

Dear listeners!

In this episode, I dive into a topic that’s both technical and deeply human: how we measure burnout.

You’ve probably heard of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) - it’s the most widely used tool out there. But is it really the best option? Drawing on critiques by Kristensen and colleagues (2005), I explore why the MBI might not give us a coherent or actionable picture of burnout. Its three dimensions - emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment—are measured independently, even though burnout is defined as the simultaneous presence of all three. This mismatch between concept and measurement can lead to confusion and questionable conclusions.

Instead, I talk about why I prefer the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). It’s clear, research-backed, and openly accessible. More importantly, it focuses on emotional exhaustion, which many agree is the core of burnout.

I also touch on an important ethical question: how do we approach burnout assessments at work without stigmatising individuals? I argue for anonymous, organisation-wide surveys - ideally on a quarterly basis - as a way to surface problems early, reduce bias, and promote real dialogue.

This episode is for anyone interested in HR, leadership, or just better understanding the people around you.

Give it a listen - and let me know what you think.

Best

Eugene (Yevgen)

PS. Our book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-56615-8

#burnout #emotionalexhaustion #burnoutmeasurement #leadership #humanresources #organizationalhealth #CopenhagenBurnoutInventory #CBI #MaslachBurnoutInventory #MBI #mentalhealthatwork #futureofwork #podcast #managementresearch

Hello again, dear listeners,

In this episode of my #burnoutprevention and #wellbeing series, I take you on a journey into the heart of problem-solving in complex work environments - by simply asking why. Inspired by a well-known technique from #processmanagement, we explore how repeatedly asking “why?”- five times, to be exact - can reveal the hidden roots of psychological strain at work.

Using the example of a talented employee struggling with the blurred boundaries of remote work, I reflect on how individual challenges often point to broader structural or cultural issues. We’ll also look at what organisations can do, from redesigning job roles to supporting skills like mental switching and mindfulness.

Sometimes, solutions don’t require a major overhaul - just a deeper understanding and a bit of creativity. Whether you're a #manager, #HRprofessional, or just curious about the human side of work, this episode will offer new insights into how stress emerges - and how it can be gently defused.

As always, thank you for tuning in. Your comments and shares help spread these ideas further!

Best, Eugene (Yevgen)

#mentalhealth #rootcauseanalysis #5whys #remotework #stressmanagement #psychologicalsafety #processdesign #employeeexperience #mindfulness #workplacewellbeing #reflection #podcast

Hello dear listeners,

In this latest episode of my #wellbeing and #burnoutprevention mini-series, I invite you to explore an unconventional but surprisingly effective tool for uncovering hidden workplace problems: projective techniques - with a little help from a deck of tarot cards.

When we don't yet know what we're looking for, traditional #metrics and KPIs can fall short. In such moments, we need to open up space for interpretation, reflection, and intuition. Inspired by a story from my own experience during a complex HR case in Kyiv, I share how a simple tarot spread unexpectedly led to one of the most insightful problem-solving discussions I’ve ever facilitated.

This episode is a reflection on how we access our deeper insights, stimulate creative thinking, and give voice to the undercurrents in our organisations. It’s not about fortune-telling—it’s about making the invisible visible.

Join me in exploring how abstract images and symbolic thinking can unlock new perspectives in your team or company. You might be surprised by what emerges.

Warmly, Eugene (Yevgen)

#burnout #emotionalintelligence #decisionmaking #intuition #hr #organizationalpsychology #reflection #leadership #problemsolving #creativethinking #psychologicalsafety #podcast #businesspsychology

Hello dear listeners,

In this new episode of my #wellbeing and #burnoutprevention mini-series, I dive into something a bit different—but truly inspiring: the power of creative, low-tech ideas to reflect and improve emotional climate at work.

From smiley strips on office doors to mood chips in transparent tubes, colourful coffee cups, chocolate-based feedback, and even burnout dartboards - these clever tools were all proposed by my brilliant students in a recent business psychology class. They prove that emotional wellbeing doesn't always need expensive systems - it can start with paper, colour, and trust.

Tune in to hear how simple #visualtools can open important conversations about #emotions, #stress, and early signs of #burnout in the workplace. Sometimes, the most insightful solutions come from those just entering the field.

As always, thank you for listening - and your shares, comments, and feedback mean the world to me!

Warmly, Eugene (Yevgen)

#mentalhealth #emotionalwellbeing #processmanagement #leadership #psychologicalsafety #employeeexperience #organizationalhealth #visualmanagement #futureofwork #humanfactors #podcast #businesspsychology

Hello dear listeners

In this new episode of my #wellbeing and #burnoutprevention mini-series, I explore how visual process management techniques can be adapted to monitor emotional wellbeing in the workplace.

Inspired by simple tools like visual boards for missing equipment and feedback buttons at Frankfurt Airport, I discuss how small visual cues - like smiley buttons in lifts (elevators) - could help detect emotional stress patterns across different departments. Subtle emotional signals often go unnoticed, especially in hierarchical organisations, but with creative #visualmanagement, we might find new ways to identify and address #stress before it leads to #burnout.

Enjoy the episode—and your feedback, comments, and shares mean a lot to me!

Best, Eugene (Yevgen)

#mentalhealth #emotionalwellbeing #processmanagement #leadership #workplaceculture #organizationalhealth #stressawareness #employeeexperience #humanfactors #reflection #podcast