Empathy Without Self-Abandonment: Unhooking from Survival Mode in Leadership and Teaching with Leila Boutaleb Brousse

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of survival mode in leadership and teaching, emphasizing the importance of empathy with boundaries to prevent burnout and disconnection.

🧭 Episodic Synopsis What if burnout isn’t coming from the workload—but from disconnection? In this episode of Classroom Narratives , Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with leadership expert Leila Boutaleb Brousse, founder of Eyelee Growth and creator of the Unhooked Leadership Method, to explore what it really means to operate in “survival mode”—and why so many educators and leaders feel stuck there. Leila challenges the idea that empathy alone is enough, introducing a critical distinction: empathy without boundaries isn’t leadership—it’s self-sacrifice. Together, they unpack how people-pleasing, decision fatigue, and chronic overextension quietly erode both performance and identity over time. From emotional regulation to boundary-setting, this conversation offers a grounded, practical lens on how to reconnect with your “why,” reclaim your energy, and lead without losing yourself in the process. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly giving but slowly disappearing in the work—this one is for you. 🧩 Show Notes (Key Ideas & Takeaways) Survival mode isn’t about workload—it’s about disconnection. Burnout often stems from losing connection to purpose, meaning, and identity—not just…

People in this episode

Host: Joseph Weisler

Guest: Leila Boutaleb Brousse

Topics covered

• burnout
• empathy
• leadership
• survival mode
• boundary-setting
• emotional regulation

Keywords

• burnout
• empathy
• leadership
• survival mode
• decision fatigue
• people-pleasing
• emotional regulation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eyelee Growth

Books & works: Unhooked Leadership Method

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