Burnout and workload
Practice talking to an overwhelmed manager who won't delegate
A free motivational interviewing role-play. You talk with Angela Okafor, played by an AI that stays in character, then get feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
How Angela opens
“Okay, I've got about twenty minutes before the audit call. What's up?”
Your brief
Angela reports to you and runs one of your busiest clinics. Her team loves her and the clinic runs well, but she's been sending emails at 11 p.m., missed her own vacation, and two of her leads told you they'd like more responsibility. You're meeting for your monthly one-on-one.
Your goalHelp Angela explore her own reasons for sharing the load, without telling her to delegate.
What tends to shut them down
Telling her she needs to delegate or take a vacation
Questioning whether she trusts her team
Bringing up the late-night emails as a criticism
Offering a delegation framework or time-management tips unasked
Ignoring her time pressure and running long
Minimizing the credentialing incident if she mentions it
What tends to open them up
Affirming how much she's holding together and how well
Asking what she'd like to focus on in the time they have
Reflections that capture both her pride and her exhaustion
Open questions about what matters most to her outside work
Curiosity about her leads' strengths and what they've asked for
Asking permission before sharing what her leads told you
Respecting her pace when she says she's short on time
Angela also has a backstory you won't see here. In the role-play, you draw it out.
Read first
Guides on the skills this role-play asks for.
- MI guide · 6 minHow to respond to sustain talk and resistance in MIHow to respond to sustain talk and discord in motivational interviewing: spot the righting reflex, then reflect, support autonomy and reframe rather than argue.
- MI guide · 6 minChange talk vs sustain talk: examples and DARN-CATLearn to hear change talk and sustain talk in MI, with DARN-CAT examples from clinics and workplaces, and how to respond to change talk using EARS.
- MI guide · 7 minWhat is motivational interviewing? A practical guideMotivational interviewing is a way of talking about change that draws out a person's own reasons. Learn its spirit, the four processes, and where it fits.
Talk with Angela yourself
The role-play opens in your browser. Type your replies or say them out loud, and finish with feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
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