The Burnout Battle: Empowering Leaders to Recognize, Address, and Overcome

I had a wonderful session today, with a Leader who is committed, growth orientated and successful in their role. We explored many areas of development, and I asked them to score themselves out of 10 in key areas of our goals focus. In all areas, huge strides forwards had been taken, with 8 to 9 being a natural position.  

Except one area – yup – Self-preservation, overwhelm and burnout. Their role – demanding, and with a passion for high delivery, there is often a cost to self if we do not recognise and strategize for the risks.  

Leadership can be demanding, often requiring individuals to go above and beyond their limits. However, it is crucial for leaders to prioritize self-preservation and establish boundaries to prevent burnout. While it may seem counterintuitive, taking care of oneself is essential for effective leadership, it truly is!  

By setting clear boundaries and practicing self-care, leaders can maintain their physical and mental well-being which in turn enables them to lead with clarity, consistency, and resilience. It also enables them to be more efficient and successful in their own roles by recognizing the value of their offering and strategically applying themselves to the areas where they are of most value. I could extend this to rescuer tendencies, the leadership pipeline, ownership – there are many reasons or triggers as to why we overstretch and step into overwhelm.  

Recognising the signs of burnout and addressing them promptly is crucial for long-term success, for self, team and organisation.  Leaders who prioritize self-preservation not only protect their own well-being but also set a positive example for their team, fostering a culture of not only self-care but accountability and ownership.   

I thought it may be useful to offer you the thinking space to connect with your own relationship to overwhelm and burnout. In the current climate, there will be additional pressure to deliver, but at what cost long term and what can you do to create awareness and avoid burnout?  

• How do you currently manage your workload and prioritize tasks to prevent burnout? 
• What signs or symptoms of burnout do you typically experience? 
• Have you noticed any patterns or triggers that contribute to your burnout? 
• How do you currently practice self-care and maintain a healthy work-life balance? 
• Are there any specific areas of your work or responsibilities that you find particularly draining or overwhelming? What? Why?  
• What strategies or techniques have you tried in the past to prevent or recover from burnout? Improvement out of 10?  
• Successful how?  
• Development opportunity? 
• How do you currently communicate your needs and boundaries to your team or colleagues? 
• Are there any support systems or resources available to you within your organization to address burnout? 
•  How do you typically recharge and rejuvenate outside of work? 
• What steps can you take to delegate or redistribute tasks to alleviate some of the pressure and prevent burnout? 

Reflect on your reflective learning here and score yourself out of 10.  

What did you score, and how do you feel about that?  

What is the risk?  

The opportunity?  

What would your score be if you built in better boundaries and improved pushback behaviours, strengthening the no? 

Ultimately, facing burnout and prioritizing self-preservation will lead to personal growth and development in one’s leadership role.  By recognizing the signs of burnout and taking proactive steps to address it, leaders can gain a deeper understanding of their own limitations and strengths. This self-awareness allows us to make the necessary adjustments, delegate tasks, and seek support when needed, ultimately enhancing leadership skills. Embracing the challenges of burnout and using them as opportunities for growth can lead to increased resilience, adaptability, and overall effectiveness as a leader. It isn’t a sign of weakness – but about becoming the expert on delivering at your best, delivering with focus, balance, consistency as a truly successful leader.  

If you connected with this piece, please do drop me a message – I’d love to hear your experiences, challenges and successes!