Episode 25: OD Burnout Is Real - Protecting Your Capacity in the Work That Holds So Much Artwork

UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

Unboxing OD is your guide to making sense of Organizational Development - one thoughtful conversation at a time. Hosted by Kenneth Pearson, seasoned OD practitioner and author of The Flow of Five Tiers, this podcast unpacks the complexity of organizational life with clarity, compassion, and a bit of edge.

Whether you're an early-career OD professional, a leader trying to navigate change, or simply someone who believes workplaces can be more human, you'll find grounded insights and actionable takeaways here. While most episodes are solo deep dives into the fieldwork and philosophy behind OD, we also feature voices from the field, bringing in experts, newcomers, and those who challenge the status quo.

No jargon. No endless theory. Just practical wisdom, lived experience, and a steady focus on making organizations better for the people who keep them alive.

Ready to deepen your OD practice? Connect with Kenneth on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/unboxing-od-podcast or visit the Pearson & Pearson LLC website at www.pearsonpearson.llc.

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UNBOXING OD: Exploring the Work Behind the Work

Episode 25: OD Burnout Is Real - Protecting Your Capacity in the Work That Holds So Much

August 11, 2025 • Kenneth Pearson • Season 2 • Episode 5

0:00 | 9:05

In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson steps into a conversation that many OD practitioners feel but rarely name -- burnout. Not the surface-level fatigue that comes after a long week, but the deep, layered exhaustion that comes from holding space for others, navigating resistant systems, and balancing the emotional labor that sits beneath our day-to-day work.

Kenneth unpacks how OD burnout shows up, why it builds over time, and the quiet cost of constantly staying present for everyone else while neglecting your own restoration. He shares signs to watch for, stories from the field, and practical strategies for protecting your capacity without sacrificing integrity.

This episode is both an honest acknowledgment of the weight this work can carry and a reminder that caring for yourself is not separate from your role -- it’s essential to it. Whether you are in the midst of your own exhaustion or want to prevent it, this conversation offers space, perspective, and tools for reclaiming your voice and your energy in the work you love.

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