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The Other Side of Potential
Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.
If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.
What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.
After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.
That space is now Beyond the Loss.
This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.
If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.
I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.
You are welcome.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wqQ8MwCty4eJAiZ8VroUV?si=0b4c5d3bab6a4b64
The Other Side of Potential
Episode 276: Burnout and Building Resilience with Gary Simonds
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When you’re in the midst of burnout, it can be difficult to recognize the signs and take action. Things may feel the same, but with a depleted amount of overall energy to take on what you normally would. So how can we learn to recognize the signs of burnout? And how can we build resilience in the process?
Joining us today to discuss this complex topic is Dr. Gary Simonds, who, for the past 14 years, has immersed himself in the study of burnout and building resilience. He’s the author of three books on the subject, namely, Building Resilience in Neurosurgical Residents, The Thriving Physician, and Thriving in Healthcare.
Having spent the bulk of his career as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Simonds is no stranger to the toll that this type of work can take on healthcare workers. Tuning in you’ll hear him expand on the nature of burnout, why it can be so difficult to recognize, and what we can do to build resilience. To hear his insights on this complicated subject, and his advice on how to address it, be sure to tune in today!
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
- Why burnout isn’t a binary condition, but rather, exists on a spectrum.
- Indicators of burnout that Dr. Simonds learned to recognize in his peers.
- A breakdown of how burnout affected his team.
- How he helped them build resilience in weekly meetings over many months.
- The transformative impact that building resilience had on his team.
- Why repetition, consistency, and offering a range of methods are key to building resilience.
- Unpacking the impact the COVID pandemic had on the healthcare industry.
- What you can do to combat burnout at an individual level in the absence of systemic reforms.
- Training students to deliver compassionate care with resilience.
- Why finding meaning in your work acts as an antidote to burnout.
- How being resilient can have a positive effect on the resilience of others.
- Dr. Simonds's foray into fiction and how he got the idea for his book Death’s Pale Flag.
- The courage, grace, and humanity of his patients and their families (and why they never fail to inspire him).
Transcript: Here
Additional Resources:
Website: https://garyrsimonds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-simonds-5b0225a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garyrsimonds/
X: https://twitter.com/garyrsimonds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garyrsimonds
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/