Leadership Burnout: Why Boundaries Are Your Most Powerful Tool
I had a great conversation for Sarah Stewart’s Own Your Time Podcast this week, and it’s spurred me to bring the subject of boundaries and leadership burnout back to my blog.
You see, leadership burnout hit me hard in 2016.
2016 was my “year of doom.” I faced more bereavements than I care to mention, including losing my dad and my mother-in-law, which took a huge emotional toll. Around the same time, I found myself as Acting Headteacher of a fairly large primary school. We had the perfect storm in school, which meant I was the only member of the senior leadership team available to oversee everything in school, with the rest of the SLT either in class teaching or absent.
I had never planned to be a head teacher and hadn’t received formal head teacher professional learning. I’m a people pleaser at heart, and I wanted to support my teachers, learning assistants, office staff, and janitors so they could do their jobs without burning out. So, I said ‘yes’ to everything, taking on tasks far beyond my capacity. At one point, I was running nine classes in the gym myself just to allow my teachers to have their non-contact time, which in hindsight was utterly ridiculous!
I gave everything I had, working long hours, emotionally drained, and constantly pushing myself. Eventually, I crashed and burned. Looking back, if I had taken a step back, said ‘no’ when I needed to, and simplified my approach, I might have avoided that burnout, or at least sustained myself for longer. That period was a huge life lesson: learning to set boundaries wasn’t just necessary; it was critical for my health, my sanity, and ultimately my effectiveness as a leader.
Many leaders experience this same drive to take on everything. We tell ourselves that being available, helpful, and “handling it all” defines good leadership. But constantly stretching yourself thin doesn’t make you a better leader; it sets you up for burnout.
Boundaries aren’t selfish.
They’re essential for protecting your energy, focus, and ability to lead with clarity and compassion.
The Myth of the Boundaryless Leader
There’s a persistent myth that great leaders never say no. That they’re always available, always calm, always ready to take on more. For a while, it can feel noble. But the reality is, it’s a fast track to exhaustion and poor decisions.
Research backs this up. Harvard Business Review has shown that leaders working extended hours struggle with prioritisation and decision fatigue. The DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2025 recently surveyed more than 10,700 leaders, revealing 71% have experienced a significant increase in stress levels since moving into leadership. And yet, so many of us cling to the belief that more is better.
The truth is, when we operate without boundaries, we model unsustainable behaviour to our teams. We show them that burning out is part of the job description - and it shouldn’t be.
What Burnout Really Does to Leaders (and Teams)
Leadership burnout goes far beyond simple tiredness. According to the World Health Organisation, burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy. Gallup reports that 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes, and leaders are not immune. The consequences of burnout for leadership include:
Declining decision-making: Chronic stress impairs clarity and cognitive flexibility.
Lower team morale: Burned-out leaders can unintentionally model disengagement.
Eroded trust and connection: Teams notice when leaders are reactive or unavailable.
Burnout is a personal and organisational risk. Protecting your energy safeguards your wellbeing and your team’s performance.
Boundaries as a Leadership Strategy
Boundaries are not optional. They are a strategic leadership skill that enables sustainable performance. Leaders who apply boundaries intentionally:
· Protect energy and focus
· Improve decision-making
· Create space for clarity, compassion, and thoughtful leadership
Research supports this approach. Emotional intelligence frameworks emphasise self-awareness and self-regulation as key predictors of leadership success. Leaders who manage their energy and model healthy behaviour foster resilience across their teams.
Setting boundaries also signals to your organisation that leadership is not about doing everything, but about doing what matters most with impact.
Practical Ways Leaders Can Set Boundaries
Here are some strategies to start protecting your energy while leading effectively:
1. Learn to say no with confidence: Saying no protects your capacity to deliver on your highest priorities. Use clear language like, “I won’t be able to take that on right now, but here’s an alternative…”
2. Block time for focus and rest: Schedule deep work periods and short breaks like critical meetings. Listen to the podcast to find out more about how I manage my calendar.
3. Clarify priorities with your team and your line manager: Align expectations so you focus on what truly drives results.
4. Model healthy behaviours: Teams take cues from leaders. If they see you protecting your boundaries, they feel permission to do the same.
5. Communicate availability proactively: Let colleagues know when you are reachable and when you are focused. Transparency reduces stress for everyone.
Even small adjustments can compound into significant improvements in performance, engagement, and wellbeing.
The Ripple Effect of Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries don’t just protect leaders - they set the tone for the whole team.
When leaders manage their energy, they signal that it’s acceptable for others to do the same. This fosters a healthier culture, reduces presenteeism, and improves overall productivity. Creating sustainable impact without overwhelm becomes not just a personal goal, but a team-wide standard.
Leaders who prioritise energy management model resilience, clarity, and compassion, all qualities that ripple through the organisation and enhance long-term effectiveness.
Take a moment to reflect: where do you need to draw a line this week to protect your leadership energy?
Leadership is not about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most, from a place of strength, clarity, and compassion.
If you’d like guidance on setting boundaries that support sustainable leadership, explore my leadership coaching, free resources, or podcast episodes on leading with boundaries.
