MnCMN Change Summit - When Change Becomes Exhausting: Designing Change That Protects Capacity (Virtual)

Description

Burnout is no longer an individual problem—it’s a signal that change is outpacing human capacity.

In today’s nonstop transformation environment, change practitioners and the people they support are running out of air. This session reframes burnout as feedback on how change is being designed, paced, and led—not a failure of resilience or commitment. Using the familiar “put your own oxygen mask on first” metaphor, we’ll explore what it means to lead change in a way that protects capacity—both your own and others’.

Participants will examine common burnout signals that emerge during transformation, how well-intended change practices can unintentionally drain people, and where intentional design choices help sustain energy, clarity, and momentum. The session blends reflection with practical tools to help change leaders care for their own effectiveness while creating change experiences that are more humane, sustainable, and successful.

Key Takeaways

• A new way to understand burnout during change. You’ll walk away seeing burnout not as a personal shortcoming, but as a signal that change capacity, pacing, or clarity needs attention—giving you a more constructive way to diagnose what’s really happening.
• Insight into which change practices drain energy—and which protect it. You’ll identify common, well-intended change behaviors that unintentionally increase strain, along with design choices that help preserve focus, energy, and effectiveness.
• Practical approaches you can use right away. You’ll leave with simple tools and strategies to protect your own energy while designing change experiences that are more humane, sustainable, and effective for the people you support.

Who Should Attend
Change practitioners, project leaders, HR/OD professionals, and anyone responsible for designing or supporting change in high-pace environments.

About Our Speaker

Lindsay Othen is a MnCMN member and the Founder & CEO of Fluorescence Coaching & Consulting. She partners with leaders and organizations to design work and change that support people—not burn them out—bringing a practical, human-centered approach shaped by years of consulting and coaching experience. 🖥 Connect with Lindsay LinkedIn 🌐Visit her website