Episode #30: The "Digital Sunset" Trick That Actually Stops Burnout
Mike Terzian, CEO of Foothill Federal Credit Union, joins me on Make Minutes Matter for a candid take on burnout, boundaries, and where AI fits into a healthy workplace. From the "digital sunset" to treating office days like a business trip, Terzian shares hard-won lessons on hybrid work, delegation, and responsible AI adoption.
I open this discussion with a "digital sunset" framework, a graduated wind-down instead of an unrealistic hard stop at 5:00. Terzian models this himself, scheduling emails for later and being explicit about when he's truly off. Both agree burnout is less an individual failing than a byproduct of always-on culture, and that leaders set the tone whether they mean to or not.
The conversation turns to hybrid work: I recall managing global teams through COVID, while Terzian offers his go-to analogy: treat in-office days like a business trip, with a clear agenda, rather than commuting in just to sit on Zoom. He also shares his "rubber band principle" for stretching people's responsibilities without breaking them, and a mentor's lesson that life isn't a dress rehearsal.
The centerpiece is AI at work. Terzian describes Foothill's AI agent Hal, which handles routine loan paperwork so employees can focus on higher-value work, and points to JPMorgan's gains as proof AI augments rather than replaces people. Still, both caution against polished AI output standing in for real understanding, a "Hollywood set" with nothing behind it. Their takeaway: AI is a powerful thought partner, never a substitute for human judgment.
Key Takeaways
The "digital sunset" works because it's realistic, not rigid a wind-down window, then a firm cutoff.
In the absence of data, people assume the worst, set clear expectations around availability.
Treat office days like a business trip: come in with purpose, not just to log Zoom hours.
AI should enhance jobs, not eliminate them, Foothill hasn't cut headcount because of it.
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Dive deeper and check out Karen Gilhooly's book, The Three Bucket Leader: https://a.co/d/08vuNA9
For real-time conversations about today’s leadership, watch The Relevance Reckoning.
This show is produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co) with Matthew "MoJo" Jones as Executive Producer and Nathan Wheatley as Editor. For sponsorship opportunities, email podcasts@rainbowcreative.co
