What if the biggest barrier to high performance in caregiving isn’t your workload but your thought load?
In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Liane Davey, an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and expert in productive conflict and team dynamics, to explore the hidden toll of emotional labor in seniors’ care. Liane introduces us to the concept of thought load: the combined weight of cognitive demands, emotional strain, and depleted energy reserves that so many care providers are carrying day to day.
Through stories, science, and her signature no-nonsense wisdom, Liane shares how care teams can reduce mental and emotional overload, not with bubble baths and “self-care,” but with meaningful shifts in focus, emotional awareness, and energy recovery. This isn’t about doing less, it’s about making space to do the work that matters most with clarity, connection, and compassion.
Whether you’re on the frontlines of care, leading a team, or simply trying to stay grounded in a demanding world, this episode offers practical strategies to help you stay steady, present, and human.
Key Takeaways:
1. Thought Load Runs Deeper Than Workload: It’s the mental strain, emotional weight, and energy depletion that impact how we show up.
2. Focus is Fuel: Protecting your attention especially during critical tasks boosts performance and reduces stress.
3. Emotions Come First, Stories Follow: Emotions are signals; feelings are the stories we attach. Noticing the difference creates space to respond more wisely.
4. Energy Management Matters: Breaks aren’t indulgent, they’re a high-performance strategy.
5. Self-Awareness Drives Connection: A Relational Approach starts from within- when we tune in to ourselves, we show up better for others.
Liane’s insights are a powerful reminder that presence isn’t a soft skill- it’s a performance skill. When we protect our energy, focus our attention, and tune in to what we’re feeling, we create space for better care, stronger relationships, and more meaningful work.
Tune in to learn how to lighten your thought load and lead with intention.
About Liane:
Liane Davey is a New York Times Bestselling author of three books, including The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Your Organization Back on Track and You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done. She is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review and is frequently called on by media outlets for her experience in leadership, team effectiveness, and productivity. As the co-founder of 3COze Inc., she advises companies such as Amazon, McDonalds, Walmart, UNICEF, 3M, and SONY. Liane has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. To learn more go to lianedavey.com
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