Career Tipper®

A green dashboard doesn’t always tell the whole story. In this episode of Reading the Room, Program Manager and Mental Health Advocate Michele Badie shares five workplace practices suggestions that project professionals can use to hear what their tools can’t carry: from one standing question in the check-ins you already have, to communicating up, to leaning on your peers.

One question to take with you: what’s in your next status report that came from a system, and what’s missing that only came from a person?

AI trust can split project professionals into two camps.

This episode of Reading The Room season, Program Manager and Mental Health Advocate Michele Badie is talking about AI fluency and the role judgment plays in how we as project professionals actually use AI, and the one question to ask before you send the next thing it helps you draft.

Are you the one who always spots the elephant in the room your team refuses to see? Ineffective communication is the primary driver of project failure one out of every three times, according to PMI. Not the plan. Not the timeline. The communication.

A new season of Career Tipper® is ready for you, Reading the Room. Episode 1: The Plan is Never the Whole Job. Identifying what's invisible in the room is the baseline. Michele is sharing four things she has learned to look for, and one question to ask before your next meeting.

What does it mean to lead with care?For project managers, the job isn’t just about charts, check-ins, and deliverables. It’s about holding space for people, emotions, and constant change. And while we often talk about productivity and performance, we don’t talk nearly enough about the mental toll of keeping everything and everyone on track.That’s why this episode of Calm In The Chaos is all about shifting the conversation. Not just how we manage stress individually but how we collectively build team cultures that prioritize well-being. Licensed therapist and workplace wellness expert Valeir Carmel Dorsainvil, will join me.Let’s talk honestly about how PMs can foster psychological safety, set healthy boundaries, and model what it means to care for ourselves and each other.Because care isn’t a bonus feature of leadership.It’s the foundation of sustainable, successful teams.

Project managers often serve as the bridge between strategy and execution, but how frequently do we talk about the emotional toll of that role? Or the mental health impact of "urgency culture" and communication breakdowns?

This Calm In The Chaos episode will explore deepened conversations around wellness at work; licensed therapist Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil LCSW, who specializes in workplace wellness, and I have been reflecting on two essential themes:

1. Leading in all directions—up, down, and across—while protecting team wellbeing.

2. Managing time without sacrificing mental health?

We welcome you to join us in conversations that need normalizing. 

✔️ The real mental health impacts of poor communication

✔️ How to create psychological safety across project teams

✔️ Breaking free from the "always-on" mindset

✔️ Recovery tips for teams already on the brink

This Calm In The Chaos episode will explore the mental health challenges of project and program management practitioners, particularly how to develop their mental wellness capacity to navigate complex projects. Joined by licensed therapist Valeris Carmel Dorsainvil LCSW, who specializes in workplace wellness, we will explore these practitioners' unique pressures and how to proactively check in on their mental well-being. This conversation offers actionable advice for project and program management professionals who want to build healthy teams by staying mentally strong and adaptable through uncertainty.

This Calm In The Chaos episode will explore the mental health challenges of project and program management practitioners, particularly how to identify signs of burnout and maintain self-care while meeting deadlines. Joined by licensed therapist Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil, who specializes in workplace wellness, we will explore these practitioners' unique pressures and how to check in on their mental well-being proactively. This conversation offers actionable advice for project and program management professionals who want to build healthy teams by recognizing signs of burnout.

This Calm In The Chaos episode will dive deep into project and program management practitioners' mental health challenges, particularly during the mid-month crunch. With constant deadlines, team dynamics, and deliverables piling up, it's easy for stress and burnout to take center stage. Joined by licensed therapist Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil LCSW, specializing in workplace wellness, we will explore project and program management practitioners' unique pressures and how to check in on their mental well-being proactively. This conversation offers actionable advice for project and program management professionals who want to build healthy teams by honoring psychological safety.

In this Calm In The Chaos episode, we dove deep into project management practitioners' mental health challenges, particularly during the mid-month crunch. With constant deadlines, team dynamics, and deliverables piling up, it's easy for stress and burnout to take center stage. Joined by licensed therapist Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil LCSW, specializing in workplace wellness, we explored project management practitioners' unique pressures and how to proactively check in on their mental well-being. From recognizing early signs of burnout to practical tips for setting boundaries and fostering resilience, this conversation offers actionable advice for project management professionals who want to balance productivity with peace of mind. Whether leading a high-stakes project or simply navigating daily work stress, this episode reminds you to pause, reflect, and prioritize yourself.

Episode Notes:

[00:00 - 01:56]: Intros and the "why" behind the launch of the mid-month wellness check-in series for project management professionals.

[0:157 - 4:22]: Valerie shares her observations of unique mental health challenges that project management professionals encounter compared to professionals in other roles.

[4:23 - 6:25]: Valerie shares examples of patterns or behaviors you've observed in clients who work in project management when approaching burnout.

[6:26 - 8:12]: Valerie and Michele further discuss the optics of decision fatigue and how to recognize consistent signs of experiencing burnout.

[8:13 - 10:59]: Valerie clarifies the durations of burnout based on one's approach to work and capacity levels.

[11:00 -15:51]: Valerie discusses impactful practices project management professionals can incorporate into their daily routines to protect their mental health.

[15:52 - 17:43]: Valerie shares advice on how project management professionals can intentionally address the struggle to prioritize their wellness because they feel responsible for their team's psychological safety.

[17:44 -19:34]:  Valerie and MIchele discuss actionable tasks and strategies for "staying full" and not positioning themselves to be empty and support and pour into others from being burned out.

[19:35 - 22:41]: Valerie talks about the importance of sleep and how to prepare for quality sleep throughout your day to avoid poor sleep outcomes.

[22:42 - 26:05]: Michele and Valerie discuss friendly mental health reminders on how to track your mood to navigate the holiday season and Q4 wrap-up.

[26:06 - 27:47]: Valerie provides one piece of advice, self-acceptance, and extending grace to yourself,  to every project manager professional to remember until our next mid-month check-in.

[27:48 - 29:00]: Valerie talks about cultivating wellness in the workplace.

[29:01 - 29:54]: Michele shares her thoughts on the importance of mental wellness checks.

Evolving to your professional best is a journey that will lead many of us to assess the need to honor your mental wellness. Mental wellness awareness is year-round, and small actions can ignite transformation to take better care of ourselves.

Many professionals actively seek ways to manage compassion fatigue, preserving their ability to provide compassionate care while safeguarding their well-being.

Natasha is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the states of Florida, Oregon, and Washington, a Florida Qualified Supervisor, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP), a Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Certified Forward Facing Professional Resilience Coach and Consultant. She received her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, Sarasota. She is the Clinical Director of Lakewood Residential Treatment Center and the owner of D'Arcangelo Counseling & Consulting, LLC. Her previous experience includes 15 years as an educator in an inpatient psychiatric setting, community mental health, private practice, and mental health tech. She is an international speaker who has presented on various topics, including Destigmatizing Mental Health Care, Compassion Fatigue, and Effective Techniques for Working with Teens. She operates from a cultural humility perspective and is an ally of the LGTBQIA+ community. She is especially passionate about working with clients who are struggling with trauma and anxiety.

Show Notes:

[00:06] Michele introduces Natasha and shares her mental wellness journey.

[03:00] Natasha discusses how mental health interconnects with personal and professional lives.

[4:50] Natasha explains compassion fatigue and how to recognize it.

[07:57] Natasha shares why she enjoys speaking and educating others about compassion fatigue.

[8:49] Natasha educates on how trauma impacts our body and nervous system.

[12:22] Natasha shares her lessons and insight into compassion fatigue from her experiences.

[15:30] Natasha addresses misconceptions of compassion fatigue.

[19:05] Natasha provides strategies to manage or prevent compassion fatigue.

[21:47] Natasha emphasizes and gives reasoning to recognize and honor that "It's ok not to be ok."

Suggested Read:

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Suggested Read: Professional Resilience by Dr. Eric GentryResource: Professional Quality of Life (proQOL) https://proqol.org