As burnout continues to take its toll in corporate life, the urgency for mental health initiatives in the workplace is undeniable. The pandemic served as a catalyst for many to question their work-life balance, leading to a broader conversation about the importance of well-being in the corporate environment. A 2023 survey by Future Forum found that 42% of workers reported feeling burned out. This is up from 38% in 2021 and 36% in 2020.
Leadership and Burnout
Once a taboo subject, the vulnerability of leaders to burnout is gaining visibility. The narrative is shifting from stoic endurance to acknowledging the human limits of resilience. This change reflects a broader cultural shift towards mental health awareness. There’s a greater awareness of mental health in our public conversation thanks to individuals like Sandra Bullock, Mark Cuban, Susan Wojcicki, and Prince Harry who’ve shared openly about their experiences with burnout and other mental health challenges.
The idea that leaders can struggle with burnout and need support to navigate the demands of their roles is a new one for many cultures. Traditionally, many leaders have been expected to “never let them see you sweat,” “be like a duck,” “keep calm and carry on,” “man up,” or risk being met with derision. But as more and more leaders find themselves hitting the wall and unable to keep going, there is growing recognition that we need to be ready, as a culture, to adapt if a leader needs to step back.
The cost of efficiency and a need for real support
The American workforce has become enamored with the “lean organization” in recent decades. However, this focus on efficiency has resulted in increased pressure on individuals, and the Great Resignation / Reshuffle only exacerbated this problem as even fewer seasoned people were available to lighten the workload. Meanwhile, CEOs and upper tiers of large organizations have increased their personal bottom lines by many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
This focus on efficiency, productivity, and the bottom line has come at the cost of the mental and emotional health of many people. Building resilience and self-care skills are important, but it is also essential that society and our systems change. People need real, actual help and support, including adequate pay, help with stressors like childcare, genuine recognition of the work they’re putting in, and awareness of all the good they create.
Overall, we need to acknowledge that we all have limits, and that unachievable expectations are often placed on people, especially leaders. We must be good to ourselves, and we must be good to each other. The world’s nations — and our organizations — need leaders who are healthy and resilient, and the only way to achieve that is to prioritize the mental and emotional health of everyone, regardless of their position or status.
The image accompanying this post was generated by AI (DALL-E). It has some flaws, of course, but I do find it interesting!
