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This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re doing a Burnout Check

Here’s the question:
What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

Let’s be real — burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s about chronic exhaustion, cynicism creeping in, and that feeling like you’re running on fumes.

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimates that burnout and disengagement cost American companies between about $4,000 and $21,000 per employee every year — and if we scale that to a typical 1,000-person company? That’s roughly $5 million in lost productivity and turnover costs annually.

Let’s talk who’s getting hit hardest:

• Employees across the board are struggling — especially younger professionals. Surveys show most workers report feelings of burnout at least sometimes.
• Excessive workload and lack of support are top drivers — many folks point directly to unrealistic expectations and constant firefighting.

Burnout doesn’t just make you tired. It steals clarity, motivation, and joy — the very things that make you good at what you do.

What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

1. Unnecessary commitments — committees, meetings, responsibilities that feel like “busywork.”
2. Unrealistic expectations — either self-imposed or pushed by others.
3. Lack of boundaries — late nights, weekend emails, 24/7 availability.
4. Compensation that doesn’t match effort — people are realizing burnout isn’t loyalty. It’s a warning light.

Call-to-Action:

🔹 Identify one commitment you can reduce or remove — not someday, not maybe — this week.

🔹 Tell someone you respect that you’re reprioritizing your energy — a manager, a colleague, a mentor. Accountability keeps the world honest.

In summary, burnout doesn’t just fade away when we ignore it. It compounds. But you can flip the script by making conscious cuts — reclaiming time, focus, and yes — sanity.

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Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

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Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

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This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about Power and Politics.

Here’s the question:
What truth are you avoiding at work?

Let’s be real — ignoring a hard truth at work never makes it go away. It just gets louder and more annoying, like a car alarm at 3 AM.”

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

Harvard Business Review found that 85% of employees avoid conflict at work, even when they know it makes the problem worse.
Translation: We’d rather suffer in silence than risk the awkwardness.

Meanwhile, McKinsey reports that teams who confront issues early outperform peers by more than 30% in execution.
Turns out, speaking up is a performance strategy — not a personality trait.

Organizational psychology calls avoidance a protective behavior, but let’s be honest — it’s emotional bubble wrap. Soft, familiar, but ultimately not how you get things done.

This week, identify one truth you’re avoiding at work and decide:

• Address it.
• Accept it.
• Exit it.

Pick one.
Because dragging it out is how 6-month problems turn into 6-year regrets.

In summary, addressing the truth head on can set you free from indecision, stress and anxiety.

If you want a book recommendation, try “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.”

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...

Send us a text

This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about work boundaries - not as a buzzword, but as a workplace skill.

Boundaries help people protect focus, reduce burnout, and stay consistent—without sacrificing accountability or teamwork.

Here’s the question:

Where are your work expectations unclear—time, response, priorities, or workload?

We’re seeing this across the workforce:

• In the APA Work in America survey, 95% of workers say it matters to work for an organization that respects boundaries between work and non-work time.
• And a Pew Research study found 55% of workers respond to work messages outside normal work hours at least sometimes.

Here are four common boundary gaps—plus “HR-safe” scripts you can try.

1) Time boundaries (start/stop of day)

If your day has no real endpoint, your brain never gets a true reset.

Navigation:

Use a simple statement and a clear next step:

• “I’m offline this evening. I’ll respond tomorrow morning.”
• “I can pick this up during business hours—what’s the deadline?”

2) Response-time boundaries (email, Teams, text)

Not everything is urgent—even if it arrives with urgency.

Navigation:

• “I’m in meetings right now. I’ll respond by end of day.”
• “If this is time-sensitive, please call—otherwise I’ll reply within 24 business hours.”

3) Priority boundaries (what comes first)

A healthy boundary is often just prioritization—done out loud.

Navigation:

• “I can take this on. What should I deprioritize to make room?”
• “Here are the top two priorities I’m working—where would you like this to land?”

This keeps the tone collaborative while making capacity visible.

4) Workload boundaries (scope and sustainability)

If the workload keeps expanding without alignment, stress becomes chronic.

Navigation:

• “I’m at capacity this week. I can do A by Friday or B by Wednesday—your call.”
• “To deliver this well, I’ll need either more time or adjusted scope.”

Here’s today’s action:

Pick one boundary and make it specific for the next 24 hours—time, response, priority, or workload.

Write it down. Say it once. Hold it once.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...