Have you been experiencing burnout symptoms? In 2023, it is reported that 89% of Americans have suffered from burnout within the last year—with healthcare professionals continuously ranking among those most affected. What is one to do once they realize they’re fighting this battle?
In episode 29 of the Life, Love, and Leadership for Physicians podcast, I’m talking with Dan Capello about his career shift from executive chef to executive coach and how burnout helped him get there. It is one of the most open and vulnerable conversations on the podcast and will walk you through specific steps you can take, starting today, to help you step into true success.
Dan Capello is a recognized expert in personal transformations and is an author, speaker, and consultant. He has produced events for former US Presidents, international ambassadors, Fortune 500 CEOs, US Senators, professional sports figures, and industry leaders. Dan has overseen national culinary competitions, apprenticeship programs, and is internationally recognized for his work in the culinary and wine & spirits industries.
Why do physicians and leaders struggle with burnout?
There seems to be an initial moment or story buried deep within a person that gets suppressed. These self-protection mechanisms serve a purpose—for a while. We thrive on hard work and long hours. But at a certain point, we hit a wall and need to take stock of what we want in life and create a game plan to help us get there.
“There are people that have been through traumatic situations in life, people like me, who thrive in that [chaotic and stressful] environment.”
Why do those of us who’ve gone through traumatic experiences seem to thrive in stressful situations?
“It seems the most successful people are the ones that went through the most crap because they had to figure it out—nobody was giving them answers, there was no cheat sheet. You had to figure out how to survive, how not to upset your parents, how to get straight A’s so you could actually maybe get a tiny bit of praise.”
It is thought that as our nervous systems are developing in childhood, if we’re “used to” stressful environments, we will likely seek out those conditions as adults because they seem “normal.” On the healing journey, we discover how simple shifts in perspective can completely overhaul our lives—for the better. When we allow ourselves to reevaluate what’s truly important, we are able to welcome more success in our careers and in our personal lives.
How can we reduce leadership and physician burnout?
“As physicians and leaders, we are trained to focus so much on the patient and focus on taking care of everyone else. I hope this conversation will inspire some of my colleagues to be more open to talk about some of their challenges.”
We’re humans too. And it’s important to remember that we do a better job when we take care of ourselves. It’s not a selfish act; it’s a necessary one. One that not only improves our lives, but the lives of those we love and the lives of our patients and clients.
