Burnout is a Strategy Problem: Why Health Must Lead Leadership

Currently, health is not a standard leadership development metric, but that’s beginning to change. Organizations that integrate well-being into leadership development are ahead of the curve in building resilient, high-performing teams, and in creating cultures where people and performance thrive together.

🔹 Traditional Leadership Metrics Focus On:

• Achievement of business outcomes (e.g., KPIs, revenue growth)

• Team performance and engagement scores

• 360-degree feedback and behavioral assessments

• Strategic decision-making, innovation, influence, etc.

🔹 However, Health Is Emerging as a Leadership Priority

While not yet a core metric, health is increasingly recognized as a foundational enabler of effective leadership. Here's why:

1. Cognitive and Emotional Performance

Leaders’ physical and mental health directly affect decision-making, creativity, emotional intelligence, and resilience.

2. Role Modeling

Leaders who prioritize their own well-being foster healthier, more productive team cultures and create psychological safety.

3. Burnout and Attrition Risks

Leadership burnout is now viewed as a strategic risk, impacting retention, succession, and culture.

4. Progressive Organizations Are Shifting

Forward-thinking companies like Google, Patagonia, and Salesforce are integrating well-being into leadership—as a cultural pillar if not yet a formal metric.

The bottom line….Leadership isn’t just about delivering results; it’s about sustaining them.
And that starts with the well-being of the leaders themselves.