Beware of Leadership Burnout
Beware of Leadership Burnout
As I stepped foot onto the airplane headed out of town on yet another business trip, I could feel my body changing. My heartrate increased. I began to sweat. I felt myself getting agitated and angry. But not for any specific reason.
It was May of 2017.
I’d traveled back-and-forth from the East Coast to the West Coast every other week since 2010. On top of that I was traveling to dozens of other cities throughout the U.S. and Canada in between the coast-to-coast trips. I was leading two large divisions of a publicly traded company that was struggling. We were in the middle of a massive change initiative that impacted a lot of people. I wasn’t sleeping well. Wasn’t taking care of myself. Had let my family relationships slip because of all of the stress I was experiencing at work.
And as I stepped onto that plane, I couldn’t bear it anymore.
I didn’t want to go to that next meeting. Didn’t want to have another conversation about change, layoffs, profitability, or anything else.
I was worn down. Or so I thought.
What I didn’t realize is that it was more than that.
I was burned out.
Symptoms and Warning Signs of Burnout
Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment. Leaders experiencing burnout may exhibit a range of symptoms, including:
Increased Irritability: A leader may find themselves more impatient and frustrated, not only with colleagues but with their spouses, children, friends, and their own performance.
Physical Symptoms: Burnout can manifest physically. Chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, muscle aches, general soreness, and digestive issues are common complaints among leaders experiencing burnout.
Cognitive Decline: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and reduced decision-making abilities can signal burnout's onset.
Emotional Detachment: Leaders may feel disconnected from their work, losing the passion and drive that once motivated them.
A Sense of Inefficacy: Feelings of incompetence or lack of achievement, despite hard work, can become pervasive, leading to an overwhelming sense of futility.
How and Why Leaders Experience Burnout
Leaders are often under immense pressure to perform, guided by the responsibility to meet targets, manage teams, and drive organizational change. Here are some reasons why they may experience burnout:
Constant Connectivity: The advent of digital communication tools means that leaders are rarely “off the clock.” I remember weeks where I finally logged out around Midnight, went to bed, and was up at 4am checking email again (and it sucked). The pressure to be constantly available can lead to chronic stress.
Isolation: Leadership roles can be lonely, and the burden of decision-making may limit leaders' ability to openly communicate their struggles, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and stress. And here’s the real talk…when you feel like you’re failing and not keeping things together as a leader, it’s really hard to feel like you can talk openly and honestly about that with anyone and not feel the risk of negative career impact.
High Expectations: Leaders often set high standards for themselves, which can lead to overworking and an unrelenting drive for perfection. Most of us hate to fail. We also have a mindset that says, I can do it all. And that’s one of the biggest contributors to burnout, in my opinion (trust me, it’s my own ailment — I get it).
Emotional Labor: Managing teams requires emotional investment. Leaders need to address team dynamics, employee morale, and conflict resolution, which can be draining over time, especially in the midst of other business challenges.
Proactive Strategies to Prevent Burnout
To mitigate burnout before it manifests, leaders should implement lifestyle and behavioral changes. Here are some practical strategies you might find helpful:
Prioritize Self-Care: Take care of yourself before trying to take care of others. Schedule regular downtime that includes physical exercise, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices. Leaders who take care of their physical health are better equipped to handle stress.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear work-life boundaries. Encourage the practice of “no work emails after hours” to create space for personal time and recovery.
Delegate: Trusting team members to take ownership of tasks can alleviate the pressure on leaders. Delegation not only empowers employees but also fosters a collaborative work environment. I’ve just recently hired an Executive Assistant. In fact, she started working with me just a week ago. But the positive mental impact for me was almost immediate. I’ve slept better in the last three days than I have in the last year. Because I feel like there’s a pressure release valve that was just pulled, and I no longer have to keep every plate spinning on my own. Delegation is a powerful tool if you’re willing to use it.
Seek Support: Engaging in peer support groups or coaching can provide leaders with the opportunity to share their experiences and receive guidance. It's essential to create a culture where asking for help is encouraged rather than seen as a weakness.
Reflect and Reassess: Regularly evaluate work routines, project loads, and team dynamics to identify stressors. Taking time for introspection can foster awareness and facilitate timely adjustments.
Recovering from Burnout
For those who have already experienced burnout, recovery is a vital process that requires patience and intention:
Acknowledge the Burnout: Accepting that burnout is a genuine issue is the first step. Recognizing the symptoms allows leaders to address them constructively. You can’t suppress it or ignore it. It won’t just go away if you refuse to admit it’s a problem. It’ll just get worse.
Restart Gradually: It’s important to take time off work if burnout is severe. Upon return, begin with manageable workloads to avoid overwhelming oneself too soon. This is often challenging for the traditional “Type A” / high achievers, because we rarely want to limit our scope of work or take on less than we think we can handle. What I’m saying is, often we do it to ourselves…But the only way to fix it and keep it from happening again is by changing your mindset and your behaviors.
Implement New Practices: Use the proactive strategies I’ve mentioned to reshape your work habits. Building new, healthier routines fosters resilience.
Focus on Fulfillment: Shift your focus from titles and achievements to what actually brings joy and satisfaction in work. Engaging in meaningful tasks can reignite passion.
Seek Professional Help: In cases of severe burnout, therapy can be beneficial. I have a close friend who went through this recently and who is rebuilding their life and career through the help of a Burnout Coach (yeah, it’s a thing!). Mental health professionals can provide strategies to cope with stress and rebuild both confidence and skills.
What did it take for me personally to recover from burnout?
It took quitting my job. Making a huge change and moving from a publicly traded company to a small shop where I had a lot more control over my travel, my day-to-day schedule, and where I wasn’t dealing with the same level of stress every day.
I’m not suggesting this is the only way (or even the best way). It happened to be the way that I was able to recover and get fully back to being myself. And it might be something you need to consider at some point as well.
By recognizing early symptoms, understanding the root causes, and proactively implementing preventative strategies, you can safeguard your well-being and sustain your effectiveness. For those who have experienced burnout, recovery, while challenging, is attainable with the right mindset and support. Investing time in personal health and leadership practices is not only beneficial for leaders themselves but ultimately enriches their teams and organizations as well.
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