324: The Hidden Mismatches Driving Burnout with Cait Donovan

How can you recognise burnout, understand its root causes, and create a better match between people and the workplace? In this episode of the Happier at Work podcast, Aoife O'Brien speaks with Cait Donovan, author of the upcoming book ‘Mismatch: Why Good People Burn Out in Good Organisations’, about the difference between chronic stress and burnout, the role of workplace mismatches, and why burnout is blameless. Cait explains that burnout is defined by a lack of recoverability, with recovery taking 12 to 18 months on average. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: The difference between chronic stress and burnout, and why recoverability is the key distinction. Why burnout can take 12 to 18 months to recover from. How childhood experiences and emotional neglect can affect interoception, agency, and the ability to notice stress signals. Why burnout is blameless, with contributing factors often found in both the individual and the workplace. Related Topics Covered: Workplace Culture, Mental Health, Chronic Stress at Work Connect with Aoife O’Brien | Host of Happier at Work®: Website LinkedIn YouTube Connect with Cait Donovan | Author, Culture & Leadership Keynote Speaker & Advisor: LinkedIn Website Episodes You’ll Love: Episode 241: Exploring The Phases of Burnout with Aoife O’Brien Episode 294: The Realities of Leadership Mental Health with Melissa Doman About Happier at Work® Happier at Work® is the podcast for business leaders who want to create meaningful, human-centric workplaces. Hosted by Aoife O’Brien, the show explores leadership, career clarity, imposter syndrome, workplace culture, and employee engagement — helping you and your team thrive. If you enjoy podcasts like WorkLife with Adam Grant, The Happiness Lab, or Squiggly Careers, you’ll love Happier at Work®. Join Aoife O’Brien for weekly insights on leadership, workplace culture, career clarity, imposter syndrome, and creating work that works for you. Editing by Amanda Fitzgerald. Website: https://happieratwork.ie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappierAtWorkHQ