Why Responsibility Keeps Landing on You (Part 1 of The Over-Responsibility Trap)

Have you ever looked at a task on your plate and wondered when it became your responsibility?

Nobody asked you to do it. Nobody assigned it to you. But somehow it landed on you, and now you're carrying it.

In this Quick Dip, Rachel explores the responsibility trap - the pattern where capable and conscientious professionals automatically pick up unclaimed problems. Over time, these responsibilities accumulate, increasing your workload, emotional labour, and ultimately contributing to burnout.

This episode explores why responsible people are particularly vulnerable to this trap and how being more deliberate about what you choose to carry can protect both your energy and your professional identity.

Resources mentioned

1. Dr Sarah Coope’s LinkedIn article on the “silence gap”
2. FrogFest Virtual: The Doubt Busters - a half-day online symposium for doctors and senior healthcare professionals happening on 3 June 2026.

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