Professionally, this has been a season of growth for me, and while it would be easy to give in to the thought, “I'll take a vacation, break, or rest when things slow down - or when the holidays are here,” I know that when that thought pattern starts coming up…that is precisely when I need to be even more diligent about taking breaks (or I'll be on the one-way train to Burnout City). Because let’s be real, the holidays are never as restful as we imagine them to be.
A Warning Sign
When I discuss taking time for rest with the leaders that I coach, the response I get far too often is this: "I can't remember the last time I took a vacation."
And every time, my answer is the same: “That's not a badge of honor. It's a warning sign.”
A 2024 study found that 95% of nonprofit leaders cited burnout as a top concern in their work. And a 2022 study found that over 80% of senior leaders among the private and public sectors experience exhaustion rates that are associated with burnout.
And while these statistics are certainly concerning, they’re unfortunately not surprising.
Why Does Leadership Burnout Happen?
The thing is, the kind of people who become great leaders are typically those who a) are mission-driven and b) tend to help others before helping themselves. They tend to put extra pressure on themselves and feel a need to perform resilience.
And it's because of you passionate, caring souls that your work exists in the first place and continues to thrive… but when you pour into your mission and your people without ever filling your own cup, you become increasingly susceptible to burnout.
Take the Break
If you've been around my community for even a little while, you know I'm all about burnout prevention for leaders. I hope there comes a day when I can stop reminding you that you are a person and not an impact-making, mission-serving machine. But until that day comes, I won't stop talking about it, because you all need to hear it!
And I get it. I so get it. When you're working to build something bigger than yourself, it's natural to feel like you can't take a vacation. There's always another deadline, another crisis, another person counting on you. Stepping away can feel like abandoning ship. So, you tell yourself you'll take that break once things calm down.
But I have a cruel truth for you: Things never calm down. The work is inherently never-done work. If you're waiting for the "right time" to rest, you'll be waiting forever. And your organization will pay the price for your exhaustion long before you notice it yourself.
One of the main reasons nonprofit leaders experience burnout is feeling a lack of support from their board. If you’re experiencing this, join my Board Engagement Accelerator. You can find more information about it here.
