In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid tackles one of the most requested — and least talked about — topics in healthcare burnout: the colleague who makes an already demanding job feel almost impossible.

Drawing on her own experience as a doctor of over 20 years, alongside research on workplace incivility and the neuroscience of threat response, Jo explores why certain people trigger us so deeply and why that reaction makes complete sense.

She introduces the SPACE framework — a practical, five-step tool for protecting your energy, setting quiet but firm boundaries, and reclaiming your sense of power in difficult workplace dynamics — without burning professional bridges.

This episode is the first in a powerful new series shaped entirely by listener survey responses, with the next ten episodes diving into everything from financial stress and time poverty to organisational factors like workload, fairness, and recognition.

If you've ever dreaded a shift because of one person, this episode is your reminder that you cannot change them — but you absolutely can change your response.

Resources: Book Dr Jo as a speaker via: https://drjobraid.com

Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq

Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr

Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr Jo explores how to create your personal burnout prevention plan using fire readiness parallels—from recognizing early warning signs to building defensible space around your time and energy. She breaks down the critical 80/20 reality: 80% of burnout stems from systemic workplace factors, not personal failings, and shares how to distinguish between organizational and individual risk factors. Learn about the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, a validated 16-item assessment tool that measures both burnout and professional fulfillment. Download the free Burnout Recovery Checklist to assess where you are across the four pillars (Mindset, Movement, Sleep, Support) and create your actionable recovery roadmap with immediate, short-term, and long-term strategies.

Resources:
Burnout Recovery Checklist: https://drjobraid.com/recovery-checklist
Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index: Check your score here
Join The Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explore where your mental energy really goes and why healthcare professionals feel so depleted. I share the story of Kate, a coaching client running her own allied health clinic while navigating the demands of the sandwich generation, and the profound exhaustion she experienced. We dive into the neuroscience of cognitive load—including how the brain uses 25% of our body's metabolic energy—and why chronic overload increases burnout risk. You'll learn practical tools for conducting your own energy audit, identifying drains, and implementing optimisation strategies using my sleep, support, mindset, and movement framework. This episode will help you understand the limits of your mental energy and what you can do to protect and replenish it.

Resources:
Book Dr Jo as a speaker via: https://drjobraid.com

Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq

Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr

Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.