Difficult Conversations • Tactical Rehearsal
Addressing Burnout in a High-Performing Senior Engineer
Hard Difficulty12 minYour Role: Manager
Your Strategic Objective
Create space for a difficult but honest conversation about capacity, burnout, and boundaries
The High-Stakes Context
You’ve seen increasing emotional volatility and signs of disengagement. This isn’t just a check-in — it’s a critical moment to intervene before Neha burns out or quits.
Neha is a high-performing, long-tenured engineer who’s taken on major delivery work and mentoring. Lately, she’s become irritable, withdrawn, and showing signs of burnout — though she hasn’t admitted anything’s wrong.
Anticipated AI Pushbacks (Curveballs)
Your counterpart is programmed to test your poise. Expect realistic objections like:
“I’m just tired, but that’s the job, right?”
“If I take a step back, the whole project suffers — so I don’t have that luxury.”
Suggested Opening Icebreaker
Unsure how to start? In the simulator, you can pre-fill or adapt this opener:
"Neha, I’ve been noticing a few changes lately — and I’m concerned. Can we talk about how things have been feeling for you?"
Competencies:#difficult#burnout#retention#emotional-wellbeing#Calm#Respectful#Grounded#Direct
Counterpart Dossier
Neha Kapoor
AI PersonaRespected senior engineer on the verge of burnout
Stance: confident
Private Sandbox Instant Scorecard
Expensing through your team?Employer Pitch Template