On the outside you may appear to have it all together. You may look calm and collected, deftly guiding your team through the day-to-day of business. On the inside, you may be exhausted. You may even feel disconnected from the work at hand or even a little numb. You may feel disengaged, not just at work, but in general. Perhaps you’re even a little impatient. You could be missing details or forgetting things you’d never have forgotten before. Sound familiar? Yes, leaders can experience burnout.
How do you manage your own exhaustion when you’re busy trying to hold it all together for everyone else?
A Deloitte survey (2024) found that more than 70% of leaders feel more stressed than they did just three years ago – that’s more today than they did coming out of the pandemic lockdowns. And that’s just one survey. A Deloitte Canada and SHRM report pegs burnout among senior leaders at over 80%. A survey by Slack suggests leadership burnout rose over 40% in the last year and a half.
In all the ways that matter most, leadership burnout isn’t any different than the list of signs and symptoms we look for in our teams. The potential impact on our work, our personal lives, and ourselves doesn’t differ much either. While it can be difficult for anyone to recognize, and admit, they’re hitting a wall, being the one responsible for guiding the ship may also mean you’re a little more reluctant to admit there’s a problem.
You’re the one that others come to for support. You’re the one that grabs the loose ends and holds it together while others are reaching for support. As a leader, you are used to the demands and responsibilities. You show up strong. You hold it together on the outside, even if you’re crumbling on the inside. It’s something we see often with high-performing, mission-driven leaders. They master the mask.
Let’s be clear: there is nothing wrong with you if you’re feeling this way. You aren’t failing. You aren’t inept or in over your head. You just aren’t meant to lead from a place of depletion. Recognizing your own need for regrouping and recharge is the first step to achieving a different, healthy, stronger form of success.
Being a great leader isn’t about being always on, thriving on tension and demands. It’s recognizing your limits and modeling how we work effectively within those parameters.
In 1989 the Energizer Bunny rolled onto the advertising landscape, banging his branded drum with unrelenting enthusiasm. He’s been a brand fixture since. He is not, however, a good example of what it looks like to be a solid leader. We’re often led to believe the always on, always high-functioning persona is a signal of success. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Great leaders recognize when they need a break, and they take one. They model healthy work habits and self-care for their teams. They delegate. They ask for help. They protect their time and create space for work-life balance.
It’s not a new concept. In fact, it can be a tired, overused phrase that borders on contrite. Whether it’s expressed as “work smarter, not harder” or “quality over quantity,” it can be easy to give lip service to the concept without following through for us as leaders. The phrases, however, have merit at their core. If you feel the need to show up early and stay late, to always be “on”, to take calls on your days off or after hours, you need to reconsider your leadership style.
Empower your team and delegate effectively. Prioritize your workload with the things that require your attention. Be realistic about what’s a fire that needs to be put out today and what’s something that can stand to wait for attention when you have attention to give it.
Sometimes as leaders, or even as strong, driven individuals, we are reluctant to ask for help. Don’t be. Whether that’s looking for support on specific tasks, input on the project you’re working on today, or just someone to let you ramble a bit through the things weighing heavy on you, reach out and ask for assistance.
If you’d benefit from a leadership coach and mentor and don’t know where to start, let’s talk. You can schedule a meeting with me here: https://cherylmarksyoung.com/contact/
(908) 345-0382