The Leadership Lesson I Learned Over Panna Cotta & Spilling Tea

Sunday was a full-circle moment.

I spent the day facilitating a leadership retreat for the Junior League of Greenville.

It was energizing, fulfilling, and one of those "this is exactly where I'm supposed to be" kind of moments.

These are the conversations that change the trajectory of leadership teams. No more guessing who's ready to lead or hoping the right people step up. We mapped it out. They got clear. And they're moving forward with confidence. If your team or organization is ready for that kind of clarity and alignment, let's talk. I have a few spots left this spring for: ✨ Half-day and full-day leadership retreats ✨ Workshops on burnout-resistant leadership ✨ Keynotes that challenge old leadership narratives and spark new ones Let’s build leaders who stay balanced and badass. --- 🤝 When you're ready, let's talk—individual coaching or corporate consulting, I'm here to help. ♻️ Share this with your circle.#EmployeeBurnout #Burnout #BurnoutPrevention #BurnoutRecovery #BurnoutResistant #Stress #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #CareerGoals #Coaching #CorporateLife #HumanResources

♬ Who You Share It With - Layup & Katelyn Tarver

And I wouldn't have even been in that room if it weren't for Lauren.

You see, Lauren is a former colleague turned friend. She saw my work, believed in my skills, and when this opportunity came up, she thought of me.

After the retreat, I grabbed dinner with Lauren and another former colleague/friend I haven't seen in a while.

We laughed about things that used to stress us out. Spilled some tea over delicious panna cotta. Shared how our lives have changed. And reflected on everything we've navigated since we worked together.

That's when it struck me:

Workplace friendships don't always end when the job does.

Sometimes, they become the most powerful form of professional currency. And other times, they quietly chip away at your boundaries and your ability to move forward.

Let's talk about the double-edged sword of work friendships.

When they're good, they're really good.

They help you get through brutal deadlines. They make 9AM meetings bearable. They text you a heads-up when the vibe in the room is off. They recommend you for roles and gigs you never even knew existed.

They see you. And sometimes, that's the only reason you don't quit on the spot.

But what if they're unhealthy or overly enmeshed?

You stop advocating for your needs. You hesitate to set boundaries because you don't want to disappoint a friend.

You stay too long in roles you've outgrown because you're scared to leave your people behind. You get caught in the emotional residue of someone else's burnout.

And if you've ever left a toxic job and missed your coworkers more than the paycheck? You know exactly what I mean.

So what do we do with that?

How do you build meaningful, healthy connections at work without losing yourself in the process?

Here's what I've learned:

Anchor in your identity outside of work. If your closest friends are all tied to your employer, it’s easy to lose your sense of self when things shift. Cultivate community beyond your role.

Separate personal loyalty from professional discernment. You can love the people you work with and still know the job, culture, or workload isn’t right for you anymore.

Make values your north star. People change. Roles change. Companies change. When you’re anchored in your own values, you’ll know when it’s time to move on—and which friendships will last.

Work friends have shaped every major chapter of my career.

Some became lifelong friends. Some drifted away. Some quietly opened doors that changed everything.

Like Lauren did for me this past weekend.

But now, I navigate those relationships with more clarity, care, and boundaries than I used to because burnout taught me what happens when you don't.

Just know this:

You can care deeply and make empowered decisions.
You can hold connection and maintain boundaries.
You can choose what’s best for you without burning bridges.

(And sometimes, your real friends will help you light the damn match.)

Here’s to work that aligns and friendships that last.

Tara

P.S. The retreat this weekend was a reminder of what's possible when we intentionally develop our leadership pipeline. We didn't cross our fingers and hope people would step up. We helped them get clear on how they want to lead next, and 86% said it was a game-changer and really helpful. If building a strong, burnout-resistant leadership pipeline is on your radar this year, let’s get something on the calendar.