Hi Reader

Last week I coached one of too many high performers who feel like they’re barely hanging on. People who built impressive careers but now dread their calendars, zone out in meetings, and wonder quietly, “Is this really sustainable?”

​Deloitte’s Well-being Report confirms what many of us already feel: leadership is breaking people.

Mental, physical, financial, and social health are all trending downward. The numbers are sobering:

• 52% feel exhausted
• 49% feel stressed
• 43% feel overwhelmed
• 33% feel lonely
• 32% feel depressed
• 70% face barriers like unrealistic workloads and poor training

It’s easy to think this is just the cost of being in charge. But it’s not.

Burnout Isn’t Just About Workload—It’s About Experience

The truth is, burnout isn’t always about the amount of work. It’s about the way we experience our work.

And that experience is shaped by six common factors:

1. Work Overload
2. Lack of Role Clarity
3. Poor Communication
4. Issues with Managers
5. Unreasonable Time Pressure
6. Lack of Control

You can’t fix every system around you—but you can shift the way you lead within it.

Here’s what I’ve seen work.

Addressing the Six Burnout Triggers

Audit your calendar. Cut what doesn’t move the needle.

Block deep work, recovery time, and space to think—not just more meetings.

Protect your time.

Choose your three key outcomes for the week. Say them out loud.

Ask, “What does success in this role actually look like?”

Revisit and realign when things shift. Don’t let ambiguity fester.

Initiate connection. Don’t wait to be looped in.

Set regular check-ins with key people—even 10 minutes helps.

Ask clearer, better questions. Clarity starts with curiosity.

Align often: “Are we focused on the same priorities?”

Offer feedback with facts—not frustration.

And if a hard conversation needs to happen? Have it before it’s overdue.

Before jumping in, take a breath.

Ask, “Is this urgent—or just loud?”

Sprinting is fine. But marathoners finish the race.

Write down what you control today. Act from that list.

Reframe: “What part of this is mine to shift?”

Small wins build big momentum—and agency.

Burnout Isn’t Your Fault, But It Is Your Move

This isn’t about being tougher or powering through. It’s about playing a smarter game.

And here’s the bottom line:

You don’t need to wait for the system to change to protect your energy, your leadership, or your career.

But you do need a place to do the work—without doing it alone.

What We’re Building Inside The Meaning Makers

This is why we created The Meaning Makers—a space for leaders who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Battle-tested tools for navigating overload, toxic dynamics, and the complexity of modern leadership.
• Bi-Weekly Focus Sessions to actually get deep work done—without distractions or meetings.
• Bi-Weekly Accountability Sessions to set clear goals, commit, and follow through.

Because clarity, consistency, and connection don’t just prevent burnout. They build the kind of leadership that lasts.

And that’s what most of us really want.

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