EP: 62 Can Listening Leaders Truly Prevent Burnout?

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I sat down with Sam Gibbs, Lead for Curriculum and Development at the Greater Manchester Education Trust. Sam shares her deeply personal story of burnout, how it shaped her as a leader, and the work she is now doing to ensure staff feel listened to and supported.

Can I challenge you to reflect: How do our experiences of stress and overwhelm shape the way we lead and support others?

We talk about why staff wellbeing can’t be separated from personal life pressures, and how overwork even when we love our jobs can still lead to burnout. Sam takes us through the creation of her trust’s Workload Charter, co-developed with staff, and why ethical leadership is less about words on paper and more about how we treat each other every day.

In our conversation, you’ll hear how we:
Rebuild confidence and identity after experiencing burnout.
Set boundaries and create routines that protect wellbeing.
Co-create a Workload Charter that adapts to staff needs and real lives.
Embed ethical behaviours into leadership so staff feel valued and respected.
Use listening, care, and collaboration as the foundations of school culture.

If you’ve ever felt silenced, overworked, or unsure how to rebuild after burnout, this episode offers both hope and practical strategies for shaping healthier, more human organisations.

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