The Surprising Truth About Coach Burnout (It’s Not What You Think)
Name It, Claim It & Reframe It
Compassion burnout.
I know it well.
That gut-wrenching moment when the spark of empathy I rely on starts to flicker, and cynicism threatens to take its place.
It’s the dark side of being a coach, a mentor, a leader — anyone who pours their heart into helping others.
They tell you it’s a badge of honor, a sign of how deeply you care. But let’s face it— it sucks!
You start to feel emotionally drained, maybe even a bit jaded. The weight of other people’s problems becomes a boulder you can’t seem to escape.
That’s where reframing comes in. It’s my go-to for wrestling back control. You see, our brains have a negativity bias. It’s an evolutionary hangover from when every rustling leaf was a potential tiger. Reframing is about flipping the script on those automatic, unhelpful thoughts.
Here’s an example: Instead of “I’m so tired of people’s problems,” I reframe it as, “Wow, I’m making enough of an impact that people trust me with their struggles.” See the difference? It’s subtle, but it shifts the focus from exhaustion to empowerment.
I throw a dash of humor into the mix. A little self-deprecating chuckle can go a long way. Like, when I catch myself starting to zone out during a client’s monologue, I’ll think, “Okay, brain, time to switch from screensaver mode to active listening.”
Reframing isn’t about pretending the burnout isn’t there. It’s about acknowledging it, twisting it into a slightly more manageable shape, and reminding yourself that you chose this work for a reason. It allows me to keep showing up, and keep offering compassion, without having to sacrifice my own sanity in the process.