Podcast Summary: Chief Change Officer Episode #209 – Michael Levick’s Wake-Up Call: Burned Out, Broke, and Back Again

Introduction

In episode #209 of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan engages in a profound conversation with Michael Levick, the self-proclaimed Chief Burnout Officer from the Breakfast Leadership Network. This episode delves deep into Michael's personal journey with burnout, his transformation into a burnout advocate, and actionable strategies to combat this pervasive issue.

Michael Levick’s Personal Journey with Burnout

At the outset, Michael shares his harrowing experience with burnout, which culminated in a life-altering heart attack in May 2009. He recounts the intense pressures of his role as a healthcare executive, where he worked interminable hours to establish a new clinic in an underserved community. This relentless work ethic led to severe health and financial setbacks, including job loss, car repossession, and home foreclosure—all within a single year.

"In a year I had a heart attack, job loss, car repossession, home foreclosure, all in a year. And all those things happened to me because I was burned out."
(07:01)

This pivotal moment forced Michael to reassess his life and career choices. Embracing a non-critical, curiosity-driven approach, he delved into understanding the root causes of his burnout. He emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help, reflecting on his own regret of not consulting a therapist sooner.

Transformation into the Chief Burnout Officer

Post-recovery, Michael observed a surge in burnout cases across various industries, not just healthcare. This led him to 2014, when he began researching burnout extensively, blogging about his findings, and giving talks at conferences. Encouraged by colleagues, he transitioned into a full-fledged burnout consultant, offering his insights and strategies to organizations and individuals alike.

"Burnout is worse than it was 10 years ago and it's impacting every industry."
(07:01)

Understanding Burnout: A Universal Enemy

Both Vince and Michael agree that burnout transcends demographics, cultures, and industries. Vince shares a relatable anecdote about interacting with a Gen Z individual expressing burnout, highlighting how universally recognized and felt the issue is.

"It doesn't matter if you are from Gen X, Y, Z or if you're a baby boomer. It doesn't matter if you're American, Chinese, Japanese, European... there's one common enemy we all face today—I call it burnout."
(13:42)

Michael reinforces this by citing the World Health Organization's recognition of burnout as a legitimate workplace phenomenon, underscoring its global significance.

Addressing the Stigma of Burnout

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the stigma attached to burnout, especially among high-achieving professionals and C-suite executives. Michael acknowledges the challenges in convincing leaders to address burnout due to fears of reputational damage and financial repercussions.

"If it got out that the CEO of this publicly traded company is dealing with depression or burnout, what's going to happen to their stock? In all likelihood, at least in the short term, it's probably going to go down."
(20:35)

To overcome this, Michael emphasizes the importance of privacy, trust-building, and transparent communication within organizations. He shares his approach of not publicly listing clients to protect their confidentiality and focusing on creating a safe space for open dialogue.

Success Stories: Transforming Organizational Culture

Michael recounts a success story involving a startup plagued by high turnover, lack of trust, and poor communication. Through personalized consultations and fostering open conversations between management and staff, he facilitated a cultural transformation that reduced turnover from double digits to an average of 6% annually. This turnaround not only retained existing employees but also attracted new talent eager to join a positive work environment.

"It was a situation where it just turned things around and it became an organization...they were applying to work there when there were no roles open."
(26:25)

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Conversely, Michael discusses a scenario where his intervention was less successful. In an organization suffering from infighting and power struggles among upper management, despite his efforts, the toxic culture persisted. He reflects on the inherent challenges of sustaining cultural change, likening it to the body’s natural inclination to revert to its highest weight, as learned from a health symposium on weight loss.

"If you don't manage it, if you don't nurture it, you don't keep on top of it, you could have a stellar organization return to its toxic traits in a very short period of time."
(29:45)

This experience taught him the critical importance of continuous effort and the limitations of his role as a consultant—highlighting that true change requires willingness and commitment from within the organization.

Strategies for Combating Burnout

When asked for advice on handling burnout, Michael outlines several strategies:

1. Therapy and Professional Help: He strongly advocates for seeking therapy, emphasizing its role in navigating personal and professional challenges.

2. Identifying Burnout Signs: Recognizing early warning signs such as chronic fatigue, loss of interest in activities, irritability, and poor communication is crucial. Michael lists these as key indicators to watch for.

   "Some people are very passionate about a lot of things in life. It's just getting to the bottom of, okay, where are some of the ingredients that are adding to this."
   (42:46)

3. Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Michael underscores the importance of proper sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. He shares his personal regimen of avoiding food intolerances and prioritizing quality sleep to enhance overall well-being.

   "If you get a good night's sleep, your body repairs the damage that we do to ourselves on a daily basis, which means you wake up more refreshed."
   (42:46)

4. Perspective Shifts: Encouraging individuals to empathize with others, such as understanding a difficult manager’s motivations, can reduce interpersonal stress and improve workplace dynamics.

5. Continuous Organizational Effort: For companies, maintaining a healthy culture requires ongoing attention and proactive measures to prevent relapse into toxic behaviors.

Practical Advice for Those in Transition

Addressing listeners undergoing career changes amid burnout, Michael suggests a reflective approach:

• Revisit Initial Career Motivations: Understanding what once excited you about your role can help identify what has changed.
• Empathy and Understanding: Assessing the motivations and challenges of colleagues and leaders to foster better relationships.
• Customized Solutions: Tailoring strategies to individual circumstances rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Vince expressing personal resonance with Michael’s advice, particularly regarding the importance of quality sleep. He commits to implementing Michael’s strategies, highlighting the practical value of the conversation.

Key Takeaways

• Burnout is a universal issue affecting diverse demographics and industries.
• Addressing burnout requires open dialogue, trust, and continuous effort from both individuals and organizations.
• Professional help through therapy or consulting can provide essential tools to combat burnout.
• Lifestyle adjustments, such as prioritizing sleep and nutrition, play a critical role in prevention and recovery.
• Sustained organizational change necessitates commitment beyond initial interventions to prevent relapse into unhealthy patterns.

Notable Quotes

• "Burnout is worse than it was 10 years ago and it's impacting every industry." – Michael Levick (07:01)
• "It doesn't matter if you are from Gen X, Y, Z or if you're a baby boomer... there's one common enemy we all face today—I call it burnout." – Vince Chan (13:42)
• "If it got out that the CEO of this publicly traded company is dealing with depression or burnout, what's going to happen to their stock?" – Michael Levick (20:35)
• "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." – Michael Levick (29:45)
• "If you get a good night's sleep, your body repairs the damage that we do to ourselves on a daily basis, which means you wake up more refreshed." – Michael Levick (42:46)

Final Thoughts

Episode #209 of Chief Change Officer offers a compelling exploration of burnout through Michael Levick's personal experiences and professional insights. Vince Chan and Michael collaboratively emphasize the urgency of addressing burnout, providing listeners with both empathy and practical strategies to foster personal and organizational resilience.

For those grappling with burnout or navigating career transitions, this episode serves as an invaluable resource, blending heartfelt storytelling with actionable advice to inspire meaningful change.

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