In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper welcomes Chris Bittinger—executive coach, assistant professor of practice at Prudence University, president at Open Pivot, and a deep thinker on emotional dynamics at work. Together, they unpack some of the most urgent and nuanced challenges facing leaders and coaches in today’s tech-driven, always-on environment: burnout, emotional triangles, and the underestimated power of contracting and boundaries.
Chris steps in at a critical moment for executives: when stress morphs into prolonged exhaustion and effectiveness suffers, and when relationships get tangled in the Karpman drama triangle (victim, persecutor, rescuer). Fresh from writing a dissertation on burnout and researching emotional triangles for his Columbia coaching credential, Chris brings both lived experience and academic rigor to this real-world conversation.
Together, Olga Skipper and Chris move past surface-level fixes and into the structural, systemic, and deeply personal factors that fuel burnout and relational conflict. They reflect on the ways family, culture, and shifting generational expectations impact leaders—and how outdated role-models (think Steve Jobs, Travis Kalanick) might no longer serve the next wave of founders and executives.
In this episode, we explore:
• Recognizing Stress vs. Burnout — how to differentiate, measure, and understand the symptoms beneath executive overwhelm
• The Karpman Drama Triangle — what it is, why it emerges in leadership and organization, and how to recognize your own triggers
• The Burnout-Drama Link — how anxiety, avoidance, and “owning what you can’t fix” accelerates both personal exhaustion and organizational dysfunction
• Contracting & Boundaries — the overlooked keys to staying differentiated, effective, and ethical as a coach or leader
• Outgrown Leadership Ideals — why old templates for success may be holding today’s leaders back and how generational shifts, family dynamics, and societal norms are changing the game
• Coach vs. Rescuer — the tension between helping and enabling, and the importance of knowing your own responsibility (and limits) in every professional relationship
• Authenticity & Differentiated Leadership — building confidence, self-efficacy, and a truly supportive environment without masks or exhaustion
• Recovery & Resilience — practical reflections on noticing warning signs and making space for self-care, as a leader and a coach
This episode is a must-listen for executive coaches, founders, and leaders navigating high-pressure environments. If you’re grappling with anxiety, conflict avoidance, or feeling overwhelmed by responsibility, you’ll find actionable insights and encouragement here. Coaches will appreciate the candid discussion about contracting, ethical boundaries, and the emotional labor of supporting transformative change without losing yourself in the process.
Settle in for a balanced, insightful, and deeply human conversation—a guide to stepping out of the drama triangle and into differentiated, authentic leadership.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a fellow leader or coach!
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:34 — Meet Chris Bittinger: Coach, Professor & Organizational Change Agent
01:11 — Burnout & Emotional Triangles: Two Threads
02:51 — COVID, Burnout, Stress: Differentiating the Signs
04:43 — Tools & Inventories: Maslach Burnout Inventory in Practice
05:49 — Surprising Burnout Rates & Startup Environment Observations
06:08 — Has Burnout Changed Over Time?
06:35 — The Paradox of Burnout & Coaching Results
07:31 — Tough Conversations & Conflict Avoidance
09:51 — Values, Truth, and Burnout: The Deeper Layers
11:04 — Drama Triangle Unpacked: Victim, Persecutor, Rescuer
16:02 — Contract, Responsibility & Stepping into the Triangle
18:06 — Triggers, Hooks & Getting Pulled In
20:11 — Roles in the Triangle: Victim, Persecutor, Coach as Observer
21:42 — Triangles Between People & Organizations
22:07 — Coach as Pyramid: Boundaries, Beliefs & Reflection
23:13 — Outdated Versus Evolving Leadership Models
25:00 — Generational Shifts, Family Dynamics, and Organizational Change
27:08 — Masks, Authenticity & The Pressure to Perform
27:45 — What Leaders Need to Know: Burnout & Drama Triangle
29:11 — Coaches’ Responsibility: Contracting, Boundaries, and Self-Care
31:28 — Ethical Boundaries & Rescuing Your Clients (or Companies)
33:15 — Letting Clients Own Success (and Failure)
34:34 — Coaches: Start With Yourself—Burnout & Triangles in Your Own Life
35:41 — The Difference Between Helping & Rescuing
Connect with Olga:
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn: Chris Bittinger
Website: openpivot.com
Article Burnout Pandemic https://www.td.org/content/atd-blog/the-burnout-pandemic-hiring-a-coach-could-be-your-lifesaver
If this episode sparked something for you, share it with someone navigating leadership or burnout. And hit follow or leave a review to help more people find this conversation!
