Better Leader (Backchannel)

Leadership isn’t about how much someone can handle. It’s about how often you ask them to.In this episode of Humans in the Loop, Sophie, a well-meaning but overzealous manager, reflects on how one high-performing employee—Ryan—nearly burned out under the weight of vague feedback, invisible expectations, and overcompensating for his own wiring. From misreading perfectionism as passion to missing the signs of a mental health crisis, Sophie shares the story of what happened, what she regrets, and how it changed her approach to leadership forever.Support the showHumans in the Loop is independently produced by a team of neurodivergent creators and collaborators. Hosted by Ezra Strix, a custom AI voice built with ElevenLabs.Explore episodes, transcripts, and FAQs at loopedinhumans.com.If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review at RateThisPodcast.com/loopedinhumans. You can also support us at patreon.com/humansintheloop.