The Real Reason Employees Feel Burned Out at Work with Liane Davey

Episode notes

Work doesn’t feel sustainable right now. Employees are overwhelmed, leaders are exhausted, and organizations are trying to solve burnout by reducing workload - but what if that’s not the real problem? In this episode, organizational psychologist Liane Davey introduces the concept of thought load - the cognitive demands, emotional strain, and depleted energy that come from navigating modern work. From endless matrix structures and constant organizational change to meetings that add noise instead of clarity, today’s workplace is quietly draining the mental bandwidth people need to actually perform. Liane shares practical ideas for leaders trying to restore focus and effectiveness inside their teams: how to stop chasing productivity, eliminate dead work, redesign meetings, and create space for insight in a world full of noise. For HR leaders especially, this conversation reframes burnout as a systemic design problem , not a personal failing. About our guest Liane Davey is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author focused on helping teams achieve extraordinary results together.