For much of my corporate career, I wore my exhaustion as a badge. Early mornings, late nights, weekend emails — it all felt like proof of commitment. I wasn’t alone. In many organizations, the tireless leader is quietly celebrated.
It took me longer than I’d like to admit to see the cost.
What burnout actually looks like at the top
Senior leaders rarely collapse dramatically. More often, burnout shows up as a slow erosion:
- Decisions get more reactive and less strategic.
- Patience runs short, especially with the people closest to you.
- Things that once energized you start to feel like obligations.
- You stop noticing what you’re feeling at all.
Because these changes are gradual, they’re easy to explain away — a busy quarter, a tough project. Then the quarter becomes a year.
The leadership multiplier
A leader’s energy is never just their own. Teams calibrate to the pace and tone set at the top. When the leader is depleted, their team often follows. When the leader models rest, boundaries, and recovery, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
Questions worth sitting with
- What drains you that you’ve come to accept as “just part of the job”?
- When did you last feel genuinely rested? What was different then?
- What would change if you treated your energy as a strategic resource rather than an unlimited one?
A note on support
Coaching can help leaders examine the patterns, beliefs, and boundaries that drive overwork. But if you’re experiencing persistent exhaustion, anxiety, or low mood, please talk to a doctor or a licensed mental health professional. Good coaches will always tell you when something sits outside coaching — and I believe saying that clearly is part of doing this work ethically.