What I’ve Learned from Watching Leaders Burn Out (and Bounce Back)

I’ve spent years coaching, mentoring, and walking alongside leaders — the kind who care deeply, work relentlessly, and carry more than anyone should. I’ve watched many of them rise with brilliance and conviction… and I’ve also watched some of them break.

Burnout is no longer the occasional side effect of leadership; it’s the background music of our times.

Especially now.

We’re leading through chaos — political division, attacks on truth and education, the erosion of trust in public institutions. It’s like we’re all holding up the walls of democracy with our bare hands while still trying to meet deadlines, raise families, and stay human.

So when leaders burn out, it’s not a sign of weakness — it’s a symptom of living and leading in systems that are on fire.

But here’s what gives me hope: I’ve also seen leaders bounce back. I’ve watched them rediscover purpose, joy, and clarity — not by pushing harder, but by slowing down. By reclaiming the parts of themselves that leadership had crowded out.

I’ve lived this tension myself — caring deeply for my work, my community, and the systems I want to protect, while feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing in. I’ve learned that slowing down isn’t giving up; it’s essential. By pausing, reflecting, and reclaiming my energy, I’m better able to show up fully, lead with intention, and be ready for the challenges ahead — for the repair, rebuilding, and the work that will truly matter.

And over time, I’ve noticed patterns — lessons that show up again and again among those who find their way back from the edge.

1. They stop pretending exhaustion is normal.

At some point, every leader who heals has to admit: this isn’t sustainable. The “grind” isn’t noble; it’s numbing. The ones who recover are the ones who stop performing resilience and start practicing honesty.

2. They find purpose beyond performance.

Many leaders confuse their role with their worth. When they pause — whether through a sabbatical, a health crisis, or sheer necessity — they realize they are more than their output. That realization doesn’t make them less effective; it makes them more human, and that humanity becomes their new source of power.

3. They rebuild in community.

Burnout isolates. Healing requires connection.I’ve seen leaders transform when they surround themselves with others who remind them: you are not alone, and you don’t have to hold everything yourself. The healthiest leaders are the ones who learn to receive support, not just offer it.

4. They understand that rest is strategic.

We are entering a season that will test our endurance — politically, socially, emotionally. There is so much work ahead to repair what’s been broken. The leaders who will thrive are the ones who understand that rest is not retreat. It’s rehearsal.

Rest is how we prepare to clean up the mess that’s coming — and still have the strength to rebuild something better.

I know the stakes are high.The temptation to push harder, do more, prove your worth — it’s real. But the truth is, we need every single one of us for the long haul.

Because after the noise fades, after the outrage cycles through, after the next election and the next crisis — someone will need to rebuild trust, hope, and community.

And that someone can’t be burned out.

So take the break. Breathe. Step back before the system steps on you.Not because the world will fall apart if you don’t keep working —but because it will need you whole when it’s time to put it back together.

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