Is it Burnout or Betrayal?
Dec 28, 2025
How do you move from exhaustion to excitement when your work culture feels like it betrays your deepest expectations?
Let me guess.
You've tried the wellness programs.
The meditation apps.
The "self-care Fridays."
And people are still burning out.
Here's why: You're treating the symptom, not the disease.
Lora Cheadle, creator of the Life Choreography Burnout Recovery Method, said something on her Work Positive Podcast episode that resounded across Work Positive Nation: "Burnout stems from betrayed expectations, not just stress."
Read that again.
Think about it this way.
Stress is what happens when you have too much to do. Stress says, "I'm tired."
Burnout is what happens when you discover the culture promised you one thing and delivered another. Burnout says, "I was lied to."
That's betrayal.
Do You Frustrate or Fulfill Expectations?
The disconnect is obvious to new hires and yet hidden to so many people leaders.
You hired someone and told them they'd have autonomy. Then you micromanaged every decision.
You said work-life balance matters. Then you sent emails at 10 PM expecting instant responses.
You promised growth opportunities. Then you kept them in the same role for three years.
The problem isn't that people are working hard.
The problem is that the culture isn't keeping its promises.
Burnout from betrayal isn't solved by a wellness initiative.
It's solved by the daily alignment of what you say and what you do.
Do You Act with Integrity?
Steve Salee works with toxic teams going through transformation. He said the most important thing you can do for burnt-out people is give them space to acknowledge what isn't working and create new agreements together.
Not more programs. Not more perks. Space and truth.
Organizations that address burnout through Work Positive culture transformation rather than just stress management see engagement scores rise by 15% and turnover drop by 25% within the first year.
This initiative requires leaders to look in the mirror and ask, "What expectations did we set that we don’t meet? Do we act with integrity?"
Audit Your Betrayal
- Name the Promises You Made
Write down what you told people when you hired them or launched that new initiative. Autonomy? Flexibility? Growth? Development? Be specific. Then honestly ask: Are we delivering? - Ask Where People Feel Betrayed
Create a safe space for people to tell you what's not working. Small group conversations work better than anonymous surveys. The simple questions are: "What did you expect when you joined?” and “What are you experiencing now?" - Close the Gap
Do more than acknowledge the betrayal. Fix it. If you promise autonomy, expand decision-making authority. If you promised growth, create Individual Development Plans (IDPs). Explain why you can't deliver on a promise right now. Honesty heals betrayal.
The Work Positive Bottom Line
You can't wellness-program your way out of an integrity problem.
Burnout prevention starts with promise-keeping. When your Work Positive culture aligns with what you say you value, people build capacity, choose to stay and grow.
Stress management alone is ineffective. Integrity builds Work Positive cultures. Keep your word, day after day, choice after choice.
The real question isn't "How do we reduce burnout?" That’s just the symptom.
The real question is "How do we stop it at the source?"
What promise did your culture make that you're not keeping? What will you do about it this week?
Got some burning questions? Ask Dr. Joey here.
Taken from Dr. Joey's newest book, Do Another One Thing: Another 15 Experts Share Their Secrets To Work Culture Success
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