When Leadership Hurts: Burnout, Recovery & Rediscovering Purpose

Featuring Simon Elliott

Leadership can be deeply rewarding—and devastatingly heavy.

In this conversation, I speak with Simon Elliott, an Anglican minister who shares candidly about reaching breaking point in ministry. The pressure, constant transitions, and expectations became too much. At his lowest, Simon even considered ending his life.

What followed was a courageous decision to ask for help—a step that led him through a WorkCover psychological-injury claim, time away from ministry, and ultimately, a slow rebuilding of faith and purpose back into ministry again.

We talk about:

• The hidden costs of pastoral work and community life

• Grieving change when you must move on

• Finding identity and worth in God rather than role or output

• Choosing to rest, recover, and seek professional support

• Learning new skills and embracing growth, even after hardship

Simon’s honesty is a gift. His story reminds us that strength in leadership isn’t about pushing through—it’s about knowing when to pause, reach out, and start again.

🎥 Watch the full conversation here:

If you or someone you know is navigating leadership fatigue, burnout, or emotional strain, I can help.

I offer:

• Reflective Supervision and Executive Coaching

• Workshops on Healthy Leadership Mindsets

• Organisation-wide consulting on emotionally safe leadership practices

• Workplace assessments and coaching for neurodiverse leaders (ADHD & Autism)

Know a leader who might need this? Please forward this post—it could be exactly the encouragement they need.

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