Find the Work That Energizes You: The Sustainable Strengths Scan

Find work that energizes you with the Sustainable Strengths Scan: a practical, research-informed way to discover your strengths and avoid burnout at work. This episode blends strengths-based career design, positive psychology at work, and a simple signature strengths exercise to help you create a more energizing career fit. Walk away with a clear Sustainable Strengths Scan you can use anytime you feel drained, stuck, or on the edge of career burnout.

What You'll Learn:

• How to use the Sustainable Strengths Scan to quickly see where your current work energizes, drains, or depletes you
• The difference between “working hard” and “working against your nature” (and why the latter accelerates burnout)
• How to map your Cognitive, Relational, and Execution strengths so you can use your strengths at work more intentionally
• A step-by-step signature strengths exercise you can do in 10–15 minutes to discover what most energizes you
• How positive psychology research links using your signature strengths to higher happiness and lower depressive symptoms
• How to spot early warning signs of career burnout and realign your role before you hit the wall
• A simple weekly micro-action plan to test and apply your strengths in your current job (without needing a full career change)
• How to capture your insights in writing so you actually remember and act on what you learned

Episode Content:

• 00:00 - Why burnout is often about strengths mismatch, not just too much work
• 05:12 - Introducing the Sustainable Strengths Scan: overview and purpose
• 10:45 - The three domains: Cognitive, Relational, and Execution strengths explained
• 18:20 - How to identify what genuinely energizes vs. drains you during a typical workweek
• 24:55 - Guided signature strengths exercise you can do with pen and paper
• 32:10 - Using positive psychology research to design more energizing work days
• 39:00 - Applying your Sustainable Strengths Scan in-place: small experiments, not big leaps
• 45:35 - Early signals of career burnout and how to course-correct
• 52:10 - Your one small action for this week and how to make it stick