Preventing Burnout

I saw an article last spring promoting 4 strategies to prevent CEO burnout. Naturally, I am interested in this topic because I am an executive coach and deal with a lot of executives who are burning out. 

Being a CEO in today’s world requires resilience, adaptability, and the ability to handle pressure in a changing landscape. The job of CEO is high stakes, but it seems that only recently more people are paying attention to the well-being of their executives. The exhaustion, stress, and what I call “the tyrant of more” are taking a toll. According to Forbes, “In 2023, a record number of CEOs left their positions, with a sobering statistic revealing that 19 CEOs tragically passed away while in office.” *

With CEOs working an average of 60+ hours a week, this problem isn’t going away any time soon. But I am encouraged that there is more focus on helping executives with their well-being.

How do you know if you’re burning out? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you feel mentally or physically exhausted?
2. Are you feeling indifferent toward your job?
3. Are you having difficulty focusing or making decisions?
4. How are your personal relationships? Do they feel strained?
5. Are you feeling isolated? Lonely? Detached from your colleagues?
6. Have you lost your control venting on an employee?

If you’re relating to these questions, you may want to explore if burnout is the reason.  This not only affects you personally, but your burnout will affect the organization.

So, how do you fight your burnout? This same article in Forbes suggested four strategies:

Regular exercise: We all know that physical activity also improves mental health, helps you clear your mind, and even improves memory.

Regular sleep: Honestly, I find it amazing how little many CEOs sleep, and you are making important decisions every day. Lack of good sleep will impair your cognitive functions, magnify small problems, and prevent you from maintaining objectivity.

Avoid the superhero syndrome: You don’t have to do it all. Learn to delegate, draw boundaries, and trust your team.

Stay connected to the purpose: Remembering the purpose and vision of your organization actually lowers your level of anxiety and helps you maintain organizational success.

All of those strategies are good ideas. However, these tips rely on the executive to do these on their own. What is the success rate if you’re already burned out?

You don’t have to go it alone. On top of these good strategies, my recommendation is that you invest in an executive coach. The advantage of executive coaching is that you have someone on the outside who can help identify the issues in a confidential, nonjudgmental way. 

What is especially great about a coach is that they will help you identify the strengths and tools you already have and empower you to use them. Most CEOs already know what the problem is. What they usually need is a thought partner to help them find a strategy to address it. 

That’s why I think executive coaching is the most effective strategy of all to combat burnout.

Vibrancy Unlocked is coaching CEO’s to thrive. If you are feeling burnout, contact us at www.vibrancyunlocked.com. We can work together to build a better workplace for you and for your organization.



 * Hayes II, Julian. “Executive Stress: 4 Key Strategies to Preventing CEO Burnout.” Forbes. 31 March 2024.