How to spot burnout and share tough times with Emma Flaxman
Explicit content warning
02/17/25 • 40 min
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: suicide
Emma Flaxman is senior commercial comms lead at Channel 4 and a mental wellness influencer in adland, having led on mental health for the likes of PHD and Omnicom Group UK. Emma is superbly open about her own challenges, especially where they relate to becoming a single parent. She blogs about her experiences on her blog. In this brilliant conversation, Emma talks about spotting burnout in yourself and in your team as well as what life looks like for her as a senior leader raising two children on her own. We also discuss the importance of movement and recovering from the trauma of school sports to reclaim physical and mental fitness as an adult.
Key takeaways:
- Burnout often goes unrecognised until it manifests in behaviour changes
- Managers should ask their team members open-ended questions to understand how they're feeling
- Giving back to others can make you feel great, no matter how busy you are.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Managers' Mindsets
NABS Inclusive Leader
NABS Advice Line
Insanelynormal
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
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Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
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Find out how you can support NABS...
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: suicide
Emma Flaxman is senior commercial comms lead at Channel 4 and a mental wellness influencer in adland, having led on mental health for the likes of PHD and Omnicom Group UK. Emma is superbly open about her own challenges, especially where they relate to becoming a single parent. She blogs about her experiences on her blog. In this brilliant conversation, Emma talks about spotting burnout in yourself and in your team as well as what life looks like for her as a senior leader raising two children on her own. We also discuss the importance of movement and recovering from the trauma of school sports to reclaim physical and mental fitness as an adult.
Key takeaways:
- Burnout often goes unrecognised until it manifests in behaviour changes
- Managers should ask their team members open-ended questions to understand how they're feeling
- Giving back to others can make you feel great, no matter how busy you are.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Managers' Mindsets
NABS Inclusive Leader
NABS Advice Line
Insanelynormal
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
Previous Episode
How to navigate alcohol and addiction, with Natalie Bell, CEO, MG OMD
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
tw: alcohol addiction, depression
Natalie Bell is CEO, MG OMD and one of the industry's most prolific leaders, with a string of accolades to show for it. With her focus on people and mental wellness, she's well-placed to talk about leading with empathy. Natalie also has a moving story to tell: that of living with her mother's alcohol addiction, and how this has affected her.
This is a thought-provoking and heartfelt discussion, which also delves into the importance of supporting managers in our industry.
Key takeaways:
Alcohol use disorder is a spectrum, and we need to talk more about what this complex condition looks like;
We still need to do more to make it OK to drink a little, or not at all, at industry events; and
Our industry needs to give more resource and support to managers, so they can support themselves and their teams.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
NABS Advice Line nabs.org.uk/how-we-can-help/advice-line/
NABS Walk and Talk nabs.org.uk/walk-and-talk/
Drinkaware drinkaware.co.uk/
Tabbin Almond winetowatercoaching.com/my-story
NABS Managers' Mindsets nabs.org.uk/managers/
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
Next Episode
How we created a dads' community at work, with Ben Irons & Joe Dolan of Microsoft Advertising
Got a question for The NABS Podcast?
TW: premature birth; miscarriage
How we created a dads' community at work, with Ben Irons and Joe Dolan of Microsoft Advertising
Ben Irons and Joe Dolan are advertising leaders, coaches and working dads. Together they run Dads at Microsoft, a group that supports dads - and mums - across the world in the company. The group's listening circles are where parents come together for advice and support seasoned with good humour, which makes sense because Ben and Joe are definitely a good laugh as well as being very serious about the need for practical support for working parents. In this lively chat we cover a range of subjects that will resonate with all parents and managers of parents.
Key takeaways:
- How to run a listening circle for parents in your workplace - you don't need all the answers - but someone else in the group might have them;
- Role modelling is key, as is communication, when creating solutions to help your work-life blend; and
- Self-care isn't selfish, it's a must-have when you're a parent.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Bliss charity for parents of premature and sick babies
If you work in advertising, marketing or media, NABS is here for you. Through good times and bad, we’re here to get you through all of life’s issues, in and out of work.
Want to build a network? We’ll connect you to the industry.
Aiming to be your best work self? We’ll develop your skills.
Need a listening ear, a friendly face, a confidential chat, some money advice or some help with your mental health? We’re here for that too.
NABS is your charity, generously funded by the industry. Thanks for having our back; we’ve definitely got yours.
Need A Bit of Support? Speak to NABS.
Sign up to the NABS newsletter
Follow NABS on LinkedIn
Follow NABS on Twitter
Follow NABS on Instagram
Watch NABS Talks on YouTube
Find out how you can support NABS...
The NABS Podcast - How to spot burnout and share tough times with Emma Flaxman
Transcript
Louise (00:01.806)
This week, my guest is Emma Flaxman, senior commercial comms lead at Channel 4. Emma is a growth marketing expert who leads on brand and marketing for Channel 4's advertising arm. Before joining Channel 4, Emma was the wellbeing and Engagement lead at media agency PhD on top of her marketing role there. She also led on mental health for the agency's parent group Omnicom Media Group UK.
Emma holds a postgraduate in neuroscience and psychology from King's College
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