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This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today’s topic: “Leadership Reality

Here’s the question:
What Do You Need from Leadership That You’re Not Getting?”

When people talk about leadership gaps, they’re not talking about how many Zoom backgrounds you have or how many buzzwords you sprinkle into a deck.

People are talking about clarity, connection, and credibility — you know, the stuff that actually makes your work feel meaningful and purposeful.

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

Let’s look at a few statistics around these three concepts:

• First — clarity. A Gallup-style look at engagement shows only about 47 % of employees strongly agree they know what’s expected of them at work. And barely a third feel someone at work is actively encouraging their growth.
• Second — authentic communication. A GE/Ipsos poll found that while 85 % of executives think they’re communicating values effectively, only 62 % of entry-level staff agree.
• Third — trust and engagement. Only about 23 % of U.S. employees strongly trust their leaders — that low number isn’t a rounding error, it’s a culture-killer. And when trust is low, engagement plummets and turnover climbs.

Bottom line:

• Clarity tells employees what to do.
• Authentic communication tells them why it matters.
• Trust allows them to do it at their best.

Remove any one of those, and the culture cracks. Keep all three strong, and you build a workplace people don’t just tolerate — they commit to.

Trust is the foundation. Engagement is the outcome.

What should effective leadership give you:

✅ A clear picture of what success looks like in your role
✅ Consistent, real communication — not PR scripts
✅ A line of sight between your work and organizational purpose
✅ Feedback that doesn’t feel like a mystery novel
✅ Professional development that isn’t an afterthought

So, what can you do — today — if you’re feeling shortchanged by leadership?

1. Ask for it directly.
2. Document your expectations conversation.
3. Make your own growth plan.

In summary, leaders are more likely to respond when the ask is clear, focused on outcomes, and framed around mutual success. That’s the language executives speak — business impact, not drama.

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This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re doing a Burnout Check

Here’s the question:
What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

Let’s be real — burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s about chronic exhaustion, cynicism creeping in, and that feeling like you’re running on fumes.

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimates that burnout and disengagement cost American companies between about $4,000 and $21,000 per employee every year — and if we scale that to a typical 1,000-person company? That’s roughly $5 million in lost productivity and turnover costs annually.

Let’s talk who’s getting hit hardest:

• Employees across the board are struggling — especially younger professionals. Surveys show most workers report feelings of burnout at least sometimes.
• Excessive workload and lack of support are top drivers — many folks point directly to unrealistic expectations and constant firefighting.

Burnout doesn’t just make you tired. It steals clarity, motivation, and joy — the very things that make you good at what you do.

What’s costing you more energy than it’s worth?

1. Unnecessary commitments — committees, meetings, responsibilities that feel like “busywork.”
2. Unrealistic expectations — either self-imposed or pushed by others.
3. Lack of boundaries — late nights, weekend emails, 24/7 availability.
4. Compensation that doesn’t match effort — people are realizing burnout isn’t loyalty. It’s a warning light.

Call-to-Action:

🔹 Identify one commitment you can reduce or remove — not someday, not maybe — this week.

🔹 Tell someone you respect that you’re reprioritizing your energy — a manager, a colleague, a mentor. Accountability keeps the world honest.

In summary, burnout doesn’t just fade away when we ignore it. It compounds. But you can flip the script by making conscious cuts — reclaiming time, focus, and yes — sanity.

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

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Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
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  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

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This is your True Talk Cafe micro episode, designed to start your day with intention, not noise.

Today we’re talking about Power and Politics.

Here’s the question:
What truth are you avoiding at work?

Let’s be real — ignoring a hard truth at work never makes it go away. It just gets louder and more annoying, like a car alarm at 3 AM.”

INSIGHTS + RESEARCH

Harvard Business Review found that 85% of employees avoid conflict at work, even when they know it makes the problem worse.
Translation: We’d rather suffer in silence than risk the awkwardness.

Meanwhile, McKinsey reports that teams who confront issues early outperform peers by more than 30% in execution.
Turns out, speaking up is a performance strategy — not a personality trait.

Organizational psychology calls avoidance a protective behavior, but let’s be honest — it’s emotional bubble wrap. Soft, familiar, but ultimately not how you get things done.

This week, identify one truth you’re avoiding at work and decide:

• Address it.
• Accept it.
• Exit it.

Pick one.
Because dragging it out is how 6-month problems turn into 6-year regrets.

In summary, addressing the truth head on can set you free from indecision, stress and anxiety.

If you want a book recommendation, try “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.”

Join us on a live show! - learn how you can join us on a live show. You'll find the instructions on our Facebook page pinned to the top of the newsfeed: click here

Call To Action!

Like us on the social media platforms below:

• • Instagram – @truetalkcafe
  • Facebook - @truetalkcafe
  • TikTok - @truetalkcafe

Use hashtags: #truetalkcafe #TTCTalks #TrueTalkTuesdays #NoFluff #NoFilters #JustTrueTalk

Don’t forget to like us, rate us and leave a review. We value your feedback. We want to ensure that we are provide content that resonates with you. So, please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts.

So, from all of us here at True Talk Café, stay tuned for another engaging episode!

Talk soon...