Leadership was never meant to run on exhaustion.
A CNBC article this week reported that 71% of leaders are experiencing increased stress and burnout.
Not employees. Leaders.
And honestly, I’m not surprised.
Early in my career, I thought sustainable performance meant pushing harder, sleeping less, and finding ways to outwork pressure.
It worked… until it didn’t.
At one point, I landed in urgent care with stress-induced acid reflux after years of operating in constant “go mode.” I remember thinking exhaustion was just part of leadership.
Now I see it differently.
Burned-out leaders don’t just impact themselves. Stress spreads through teams, cultures, and organizations.
That’s why I’ve become increasingly focused on leadership capacity and sustainable performance through:
• Movement
• Reflection
• Planning
• Recovery rhythms
Not as “wellness perks.” As performance infrastructure.
The best leaders I know aren’t the ones operating at maximum intensity 24/7.
They’re the ones who know how to sustain clarity, energy, and decision-making over time.
Because burnout isn’t a badge of honor. And recovery isn’t weakness.
It’s strategy.
