Are you in a leadership pressure cooker? How to Avoid Burning Out.

Leadership is rewarding — but it also comes with a cost. Many leaders enter their roles motivated by vision, service, or a desire to make a difference. Over time, however, the constant demands, competing priorities, and unspoken expectation to “hold everything together” can take a toll.

Burnout isn’t limited to the corporate world. It happens across industries — in small business, not-for-profits, education, government, and beyond. And when it hits, it can leave even the most capable leaders feeling:

• Exhausted — physically, mentally, and emotionally

• Doubting themselves and their effectiveness

• Disconnected from their team and their purpose

• Unmotivated and questioning whether the work is worth it

• Less effective and less satisfied in a role they once loved

The good news? Burnout can be prevented if leaders know where their personal, individual risks lie — and take proactive steps to mitigate them.

1. Know Your Risks

Some leaders are more prone to burnout than others. Risk is higher if you are:

• A people-pleaser who struggles to say no

• Neurodivergent (e.g. ADHD, autism, dyslexia) and find traditional work rhythms draining

• Managing a team with complex dynamics or high conflict

• Carrying unresolved stressors such as chronic health conditions, caring responsibilities, or financial pressures

Recognising your personal risk factors is the first step toward prevention.

2. Play to Your Strengths 

Burnout often grows when leaders try to operate outside their strengths for too long. Instead:

• Identify what energises you and what depletes you

• Delegate tasks that drain your energy where possible

• Build a team where different strengths complement each other

When leaders lean into their strengths, they not only protect their own wellbeing — they also model a healthier, more sustainable way of working.

3. Let Your Light Shine and Others Too

Delegation is more than offloading tasks. Done well, it’s about:

• Matching responsibilities to the right person’s strengths

• Being clear about expectations and limits

• Allowing others to shine without micromanaging

This not only lightens your load but also builds capacity and confidence in your team.

4. Prioritise Self-Care as Strategy

Self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s essential to sustainable leadership. Leaders who ignore it eventually pay the price in performance and health. Protect yourself by:

• Building regular rhythms of rest and recovery into your week

• Establishing non-negotiable boundaries between work and personal time

• Seeking out reflective spaces — whether through coaching, supervision, or mentoring — to process challenges before they become overwhelming

Leadership will always involve pressure, but it doesn’t have to end in burnout. By knowing your risks, leaning into your strengths, delegating with clarity, and prioritising self-care, you can sustain your energy and effectiveness for the long haul.

Strong, healthy leaders don’t just achieve more — they create environments where everyone can thrive.

Burnout is always easier to prevent than to recover from. Through coaching and supervision, leaders can strengthen their leadership, uncover strategies that work for them, and build resilience for the long haul.

Kathryn Martens

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