Episode 2: Leadership Without Burnout

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Episode Summary

Leadership is often associated with sacrifice, long hours, and pushing through exhaustion—but what if that’s exactly what’s holding you back? Burnout isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign that something in the way you’re leading needs to change.

In this episode, we’re talking about why burnout is so common in leadership and, more importantly, how to lead in a way that’s actually sustainable.

Full Episode Transcript

Today, we’re diving into something that so many leaders struggle with—burnout.

Because let’s be honest… leadership can be exhausting.

Whether you’re leading a team, running a business, or simply showing up for the people who look to you, the constant demand to be on, make decisions, and push forward can leave you feeling completely drained.

But here’s what I want to talk about today—it doesn’t have to be this way. Leading shouldn’t come at the cost of your well-being. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself to be an effective leader. And actually, the best leaders are the ones who know how to sustain their energy so they can show up fully for themselves and others.

So in this episode, we’re going to explore:

Why burnout happens.
How to recognise when you’re leading in a way that isn’t sustainable.
The shifts you can make to lead with more energy, ease, and alignment—without feeling guilty for it.

So if you’ve ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or like leadership is taking more from you than it’s giving back, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in!

Why Leadership Burnout Is So Common

So let’s start with the big question—why does burnout happen, especially for leaders?

For a lot of us, it comes down to this idea that more effort = better leadership.

We’ve been taught that great leaders are the ones who work the hardest, who sacrifice the most, who are always available and always pushing forward.

And while that might work in the short term, long-term? It’s completely unsustainable.

Burnout often creeps in when we’re:

Saying yes to everything because we feel responsible for everyone else’s success.
Prioritising work over rest, thinking we can ‘push through’ exhaustion.
Leading in a way that isn’t natural to us—trying to fit into a leadership mold that doesn’t actually align.
Ignoring our energy signals and overriding what our body is telling us.

The problem is, when we lead from burnout, we’re actually less effective. We make reactive decisions. We lose creativity. We stop enjoying what we do. And eventually, we either hit a wall… or we walk away from leadership completely."*

You know, when I talk about burnout, I’m not just speaking from theory—I’ve lived it.

One of the biggest experiences of burnout I ever had was when I was working as a State Manager for a private consulting firm. The company was expanding its national footprint into Victoria, where I live, and I was the one responsible for making that happen.

Now, on paper, this looked like an incredible opportunity. I had a leadership role, a great salary, and real influence in shaping the company’s growth. But behind the scenes? It was a completely different story.

I was responsible for everything. I had to create new business opportunities, recruit and develop a remote team, oversee skill development and guidance, expand our service base, and—on top of all of that—I was still expected to run my own investigations to save the company money.

And here’s the thing about burnout—it doesn’t hit you all at once. It creeps in slowly.

At first, I thought, Okay, this is just a busy period, things will calm down soon. But they didn’t.

The more I did, the more I was expected to do. And because I could handle it, people assumed I would handle it.

And I did. Until I couldn’t anymore.

The signs were all there, but I ignored them.

I wasn’t sleeping properly—waking up multiple times a night, my mind constantly racing.
My neck was in constant pain—so tight it was unbearable some days.
I was becoming a shitty mother—because work was always the priority. I kept telling myself I’d ‘make it up’ to my kids later, but later never came because there was always more work.

And the worst part? I felt guilty for even wanting to leave. I told myself, You should be grateful. You have a good job, good money, good feedback from clients and staff. What more do you want?

But the truth is, it was literally killing me.

The turning point came when I realised that if I didn’t walk away, I wasn’t just sacrificing my health—I was sacrificing my happiness, my family, and my own self-worth.

So one day, I just quit.

No backup plan. No job lined up. Just a deep knowing that I couldn’t do it anymore.

And you know what happened? The very same day, I got a call from a friend looking for people with my skill set. I had another job lined up almost immediately.

Looking back, I realise that my body was screaming at me to stop long before I actually did. And I don’t want that for anyone else.

So if you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you’re constantly running just to keep up—this is your sign to pause.

Your health, your well-being, your life outside of work? It’s not a ‘reasonable sacrifice.’ Leadership isn’t about giving up everything for the sake of the job. It’s about leading in a way that actually sustains or even energises you.

The Signs You’re Leading in an Unsustainable Way

So how do you know if you’re leading in a way that’s draining you?

Here are a few key signs to watch for:

No matter how much sleep you get, you feel drained.
You start resenting the people you lead or the work you used to love.
Every little decision feels heavy, like it’s too much.
You don’t feel excited about what you’re doing anymore—it just feels like a job.
You ignore your own needs because you feel like you don’t have time to slow down.

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s not a failure on your part. It’s just a sign that something needs to shift.

Looking back, I can clearly see that I ignored the early signs of burnout for a long time. My body was telling me—I wasn’t sleeping properly, my neck was constantly tight and in severe pain, and I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. But instead of listening, I pushed through.

And the impact? It showed up in every area of my life.

In my leadership – I was constantly in ‘reactive mode,’ just trying to stay afloat. I wasn’t thinking strategically anymore—I was just doing whatever needed to be done to survive the workload.
In my decision-making – I was making choices from a place of exhaustion, which meant I wasn’t always making the best long-term decisions. I wasn’t as present or thoughtful as I could have been because I simply didn’t have the capacity.
In my overall well-being – I became disconnected from my own needs. My family suffered because I was prioritising work over everything else. And worst of all, I felt trapped—like I had no choice but to keep going, even when my body and mind were breaking down.

And that’s the thing about burnout—it steals your ability to lead effectively. It makes you feel like you have no options when, in reality, you do. But you have to recognise it before it gets to the breaking point.

If I had paid attention earlier, I might have been able to set boundaries, delegate more, or have conversations about what I truly needed. Instead, I kept pushing—until quitting was the only option left.

How to Shift from Burnout to Sustainable Leadership

So how do we shift out of burnout? How do we lead in a way that actually supports our energy instead of draining it?

I have a few key shifts you can start making.

So, if you can, grab yourself a pen and paper so you can make yourself some notes as you go through this section. This will help you integrate this information, rather than just listen and dismiss it.

Ok, first up:

Stop Trying to Lead Like Someone Else ✨

One of the biggest reasons leaders burn out is because they’re trying to lead in a way that doesn’t actually suit them.

Maybe you’re naturally more reflective, but you’ve been forcing yourself to be ‘high-energy’ all the time. Or maybe you thrive in one-on-one connections, but you’ve been pressuring yourself to always be the ‘big presence’ in a room.

The truth is, you don’t have to lead like anyone else. The more you embrace your natural way of leading, the easier and more sustainable it becomes.

Action Step: Take a moment to reflect—when do you feel most energised in leadership? What’s one small way you can lean into that more?

Honour Your Energy Patterns ✨

Not everyone thrives on the same schedule.

Some people work best in focused sprints, while others do better with steady, consistent pacing. Some leaders need social interaction to feel inspired, while others need quiet time to process their ideas.

When you understand how your energy works, you can design your leadership in a way that actually feels good instead of draining.

Action Step: Identify one habit in your leadership that drains you. Then ask yourself: How can I shift this to work better for my natural energy?

Set Boundaries & Let Go of ‘Always Being Available’ ✨

This is a big one. You are not a better leader just because you’re available 24/7. If anything, the more you give yourself space to rest, reflect, and recharge, the better your leadership becomes.

That means:

Learning to say ‘no’ when something isn’t aligned.
Giving yourself permission to step away without guilt.
Delegating instead of taking on everything yourself.

Action Step: Choose one boundary to put in place this week—whether it’s setting a cut-off time for work, saying no to something that feels misaligned, or delegating a task you don’t actually need to handle.

Recognise Burnout Before It Hits Full Force ✨

Sometimes burnout creeps in gradually—a little more exhaustion here, a little more overwhelm there. The sooner you notice the signs, the sooner you can shift.

Action Step: Check in with yourself: How is my energy right now? If you’re feeling drained, what’s one small thing you can do today to recharge—even if it’s just taking a deep breath, a short walk, or giving yourself 10 minutes of quiet time?

Redefine Leadership on Your Own Terms ✨

At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about proving yourself or sacrificing everything—it’s about showing up in a way that’s aligned with who you truly are.

Action Step: Write down your own definition of leadership. What does natural leadership look and feel like for you? Keep it somewhere visible as a reminder.

Final Thoughts

Burnout isn’t a sign that you’re failing as a leader. It’s just a sign that something needs to change. And when you start leading in a way that actually supports you, everything shifts. You make better decisions. You feel more present. You actually enjoy what you do again.

So if this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Come say hi over on Instagram at @FreshCollective_il and let me know—what’s one shift you’re making to lead in a more sustainable way?

And if you haven’t yet, make sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’re diving into Power vs. Force—Leading with Influence Instead of Control.

See you soon!

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