Episode 25: OD Burnout Is Real - Protecting Your Capacity in the Work That Holds So Much

UNBOXING OD: From Curiosity to Capability in Organizational Development

In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson steps into a conversation that many OD practitioners feel but rarely name -- burnout. Not the surface-level fatigue that comes after a long week, but the deep, layered exhaustion that comes from holding space for others, navigating resistant systems, and balancing the emotional labor that sits beneath our day-to-day work.

Kenneth unpacks how OD burnout shows up, why it builds over time, and the quiet cost of constantly staying present for everyone else while neglecting your own restoration. He shares signs to watch for, stories from the field, and practical strategies for protecting your capacity without sacrificing integrity.

This episode is both an honest acknowledgment of the weight this work can carry and a reminder that caring for yourself is not separate from your role -- it’s essential to it. Whether you are in the midst of your own exhaustion or want to prevent it, this conversation offers space, perspective, and tools for reclaiming your voice and your energy in the work you love.

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