We often assume fatigue makes us quiet — but at work, it can make us louder. This piece explores how cognitive fatigue quietly shapes communication, decision-making, and what we bring to the room when our mental resources run low.

Some conversations leave us feeling understood. Others leave us strangely exhausted, even when nothing “bad” was said. The difference is rarely about what was spoken and almost always about how well someone was listened to. This blog explores why listening breaks down at work, how fatigue and cognitive overload erode it, and why better listening protects wellbeing, reduces conflict, and improves performance.

The best leaders don’t command spotlight, they guide like lighthouses. This human-centred psychological model explains how clarity, signalling, and safety transform performance and decision-making in organisations.

Georgia Hodkinson GMBPsS Organisational Psychology Consultant April 2025 I sit with managers who show frustration over communication. "I've explained it three times. Why aren't they getting it?". It reminds me that clear communication is about what the other person actually understands. More than words, communication thrives on connection and when that connection breaks, it costs more than we realise. We've all felt misunderstood. Often the issue is subtle. We assume others c