The reason your best employees are struggling (and the neuroscience-backed solutions) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 13, 2025 · 48 MIN

The reason your best employees are struggling (and the neuroscience-backed solutions)

from How to Make a Leader · host Big Think+

Nearly 8 out of 10 workers feel stressed at work, and most say it's leaving them completely drained. If you're seeing warning signs on your team or feeling the impact yourself, this deep dive into the burnout epidemic will give you the science-backed strategies you need.Dr. Ethan Kross, neuroscientist at the University of Michigan and author of Chatter and Shift, breaks down what's actually happening in your brain when stress feels debilitating. Jennifer Moss, workplace wellness expert and author of Why Are We Here? and The Burnout Epidemic, shares the organizational strategies that companies like Google and TD Bank use to transform their workplace cultures.Together, they deliver both the "why" behind burnout and the "how" to fix it, giving you actionable frameworks to implement immediately. You'll learn:The science behind burnout and brain functionCase studies from Deloitte, Google and TD Bank on how they’re improving workplace cultureIntroduction to the WOOP framework to help employees build resilienceThe leadership practices that genuinely transform team mental fitness and engagementThings to listen for:(00:00) Introducing Dr. Ethan Kross and Jennifer Moss(01:24) The science behind stress and burnout in the workplace(03:51) How chronic stress affects focus and performance(06:03) Emotional regulation and the impact on internal dialogue(08:07) How stress alters brain function and decision-making(09:01) The threat mode response and its influence on behavior(15:19) The role of uncertainty and lack of control in workplace dissatisfaction(17:53) Why culture plays a major role in mental fitness(21:44) Building mental fitness muscles for long-term success(25:23) Using the WOOP framework to handle negative emotions(30:03) How leaders can help teams regain a sense of controlTo learn more about Ethan, check out his website, most recent TED talk, and his books, Shift and Chatter.And to learn more about Jennifer, check out her website and her books, The Burnout Epidemic, Why Are We Here, and Unlocking Happiness at Work.Want to learn more about getting Big Think+ for your business? Schedule a call with us at https://www2.bigthink.com/request-a-demo-big-think-plus 

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The reason your best employees are struggling (and the neuroscience-backed solutions)

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