The New Corporate Burnout: More Pressure, Less Support

Heidi Kalmar
Jul 30
3 min read

“We’re expected to do more with less - we’re running on fumes.”

I hear this every week from my clients - Heads of Sales, Enablement Leads, Operations Managers, Founders, even high-performing ICs.

💼 Their companies are downsizing.

📉 Budgets are slashed.

📈 KPIs are rising.

😰 Energy is crashing.

Whether it’s a scaling SaaS org or a mid-market team trying to survive the quarter, the theme is the same:

“I can’t focus. I’m overwhelmed. Everything feels urgent. I don’t feel like I’m doing anything well anymore.”

🧭 What I Tell Every Client:

"You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup!"

Companies today are pushing hard - understandably. The market is tough. But pressure without support breaks people. That’s why one of the first things I help my clients do is reclaim their energy.

Because energy is the real competitive advantage. Not just for individuals - but for entire revenue teams.

🧠 How I Coach My Clients to Regain Focus, Energy, and Clarity

Most people come to me asking for help with:

GTM strategy
Sales enablement structure
Onboarding design
Process efficiency…but underneath all that?

They're exhausted.

So we start here. Practical, repeatable energy and mindset resets:

🔹 1. Control the Controllables

We can’t stop layoffs. Or market shifts. Or last-minute board demands. But we can control how we:

Show up
Structure our day
Set boundaries
Focus on needle-movers, not noise

I help my clients prioritise their top 3 weekly wins, and build space around those.

🔹 2. Build a High-Energy Operating System

Forget "time management". I coach clients on energy management:

Deep work blocks in the morning (no Slack, no meetings)
Energy audits: what drains you vs. what fuels you
Timeboxing admin and shallow tasks to stop the context-switch chaos
Saying NO to the 17th “quick thing” someone dumps on your plate

🔹 3. Design Weekly Recovery Rituals

Burnout doesn’t come from working hard - it comes from never stopping. I help clients build small but powerful rituals:

Powerful morning routines
Friday reflection sessions
Silent deep-focus hours
Digital detox afternoons
Coworking body-doubling or change of scenario

These aren't luxuries.They’re crucial strategies in today’s environment.

🔹 4. Shift the Mindset from Scarcity to Strategy

When your calendar is chaos and your team is stretched thin, it’s easy to slip into panic mode. Shift that.

Let's zoom out:

✅ What are the 20% of actions that will create 80% of impact?

✅ Where can you stop doing things that no longer serve the business?

✅ How can you reset expectations, communicate priorities, and lead with calm?

✅ How can you collaborate effectively and asynchronously?

Shift your mindset, focus on the controllables

⚡️ Real Impact, Real Fast

Yes, I build onboarding frameworks. Yes, I optimise sales processes and improve rep performance. Yes, I deliver enablement strategies that scale.

But none of that matters if the people running those systems are exhausted, distracted, and overwhelmed.

The ROI of focus and energy is real - and it’s measurable.

👇

If you're a sales or enablement leader trying to deliver more with less, you're not alone.

Before chasing the next tool, tactic, or template - pause.

Protect your energy. Prioritise clarity. Focus on what’s in your control.

If that resonates and you want support in this, I’m here to help.