In this episode of the Verve Healthcare Unlocking Workplace Wellbeing podcast, Verve Healthcare CEO Steven Pink speaks with workplace psychotherapist Iulia Popescu to explore why burnout remains one of the most pressing – yet misunderstood – challenges in modern organisations.

With 63% of UK employees now showing symptoms like exhaustion and disengagement, and burnout costing businesses £102 billion annually, their conversation couldn’t be timelier for HR managers and employers.

We explore - three signs that your staff member may be at risk of burnout, case study of how 'Brad' masked burnout with busyness and the boundaries we need in place to address these important areas,

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In this Unlocking Workplace Wellbeing episode, Verve Healthcare CEO Steven Pink and Sam Sloan of 123 People Development explore why micromanagement persists and its impact on workplace culture. Drawing from aviation case studies, psychological frameworks, and 30 years of NHS-informed expertise, they offer practical strategies for fostering autonomy and trust.

Key Insights:

• Psychological roots: Sam explains Eric Berne’s "parent ego state" theory and how 58% of untrained managers default to controlling behaviors.
• The HEART Model: A structured approach for resetting toxic dynamics ("Start with honest, adult-to-adult dialogue," Sam advised during the podcast).
• Hector Lozoya’s Four-Box Leadership Matrix: When to coach vs. mentor, illustrated by Turkish Airlines’ cockpit communication improvements.
• Measurable outcomes: Coaching-trained managers saw a 30% reduction in project delays at Verve Healthcare.

Timestamps for Busy Professionals:

• 00:07:30 – Why operational stars often struggle as leaders
• 00:18:16 – Aviation case study: How coaching reduced cockpit errors
• 00:31:02 – Implementing the HEART method in hierarchical organizations
• 00:44:50 – Steven’s reflection: "Shifting from directive to curious leadership transformed our team"

Why This Matters for Employers:

Micromanagement costs UK businesses £42–45 billion annually in lost productivity and turnover1. This episode provides evidence-based solutions, including:

• Management training frameworks grounded in aviation safety protocols
• Coaching techniques that increase accountability without surveillance
• Metrics for tracking psychological safety and delegation effectiveness

Verve’s Approach:

Rooted in 30 years of NHS experience, our workplace wellbeing strategies emphasize:

✅ Proactive healthcare reducing absenteeism

✅ Mental health, physiotherapy, private GP, health assessments

✅ Pay-as-you-go service for corporate clients, where you only pay for the appointments your staff actually use - no more 'wasted' spend

👉 Visit www.vervehealthcare.co.uk

Love | Trust | Accessible | Patient-Centric | Proactive

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CEO Steven Pink sat down with Karen Richardson, who brings exceptional experience as both a global HR director in the legal sector and a qualified psychotherapist and executive coach. Their conversation dived deep into how business leaders and HR professionals can effectively support their teams through periods of uncertainty.

"Nearly half (43%) of employees agreed their business is not prepared to effectively manage change," Steven noted at the beginning of the podcast, highlighting the significant gap between organisational aspirations and employee experiences.

This disconnect is costly. Poor mental wellbeing related to workplace change costs UK employers between £42-45 billion annually through reduced productivity, sickness absence, and staff turnover. With the UK's sickness absence rate reaching its highest point in almost 20 years (2.6% in 2022, up from 2.2% pre-pandemic), organisations simply cannot afford to mismanage periods of transition.

Karen observed that when change is handled poorly, "It can be short-sighted because we shouldn't ignore the people that are remaining, even though they're not directly impacted." This highlights a crucial truth: change management isn't just about those directly affected; it impacts everyone.

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