Mental Health Day: Leaders Thrive by Putting Themselves First
55% of CEOs report struggling with mental health issues, a 20% increase from prior years
As a leader, when was the last time you checked in on your own mental health?
With the pressures of managing teams and driving results, often the last thing on your mind is your own mental health. With a strong focus on the wellbeing of your team, it's all too easy for leaders to take a back seat when it comes to their own needs but the cost is steep. According to the 2024 State of Workplace Empathy Study, 55% of CEOs are currently dealing with mental health issues—up from previous years. For small business owners, the figure is even more alarming, with 80% reporting mental health struggles.
Leaders can struggle due to a combination of relentless demands, attention residue (the cognitive toll from constant task-switching), and negative core beliefs which exacerbate stress and burnout.
Leadership in the "Always On" Era: A Road to Burnout
The always-on culture is one of the leading contributors to burnout. With an increasing focus on multitasking, leaders often face mental fatigue as they juggle various tasks without taking time for rest.
Leadership is About Being, Not Just Doing
Beyond the visible stressors, many leaders grapple with deep-seated negative beliefs of not being worthy or not good enough. When you’re subconsciously driven by these beliefs, it shows in your actions—and can even seep into the way you manage your team, passing on stress without realising it. Taking ownership of your mental health is crucial, not just for your own wellbeing, but to prevent projecting your internal struggles onto others.
As leaders, it’s easy to conflate productivity with success. But leadership is about a way of being, not just doing.
A Leader's Personal Struggle with Mental Health
A client of mine said to me this week, "The business is struggling because of my mental health challenges." He was experiencing burnout, overwhelmed by anxiety, and slowly losing passion for his work. His story is not unique—many leaders face similar challenges, and these personal battles directly influence organisational performance.
Therapy and Coaching: A Pathway to Growth
Many leaders still resist seeking professional help, fearing it will expose weakness. But therapy and coaching offer a structured space for self-reflection and growth. Therapy is vital for uncovering the internal narratives that might be driving harmful behaviours or beliefs. It allows leaders to build inner strength, enabling them to manage their stressors with clarity and compassion.
Leadership isn’t just about strategies and results—it’s about relational practice. Understanding yourself better through therapy provides the tools to better understand yourself and develop emotional resilience. When leaders cultivate self-compassion, they are better equipped to extend that compassion to others. Leadership is not just about results—it’s about building relationships, and this starts with having a strong connection to yourself.
“Counselling helped me confront my self-sabotaging behaviours. I’ve learned that vulnerability is essential in my role”
Strategies to build Mental Health Resilience as a Leader
1. Foster a Sustainable Pace Leaders often feel the need to move at breakneck speed, yet research shows that slower, more deliberate pacing reduces stress and improves team productivity. Encourage teams to focus on quality over quantity. A leader who models this behaviour creates an environment where innovation thrives without constant urgency.
2. Promote Autonomy and Leading by Example
It’s not enough to encourage work-life balance—you must embody it. Leaders who set boundaries, take time off, and avoid burnout model healthy work habits for their teams. By prioritising personal wellbeing, you empower your team to do the same.
3. Embrace Nature and Meditation
Research shows that spending time in nature can significantly improve mental clarity and creativity. Time is always the biggest blocker I hear about, but we all have the same 24 hours each day and stepping outside into a green space reduces frustration by 25%, fostering a more meditative state. Similarly, mindfulness practices, such as short daily meditations, have been shown to decrease stress and enhance cognitive function.
Take Action: Prioritise Your Mental Health
Mental Health Day is the perfect time to reflect on how you're managing your own mental wellbeing. Ask yourself:
Are you setting boundaries, or are you constantly available?
Are you giving yourself the space to decompress, or are you always pushing through stress?
It’s time to make a change. Take the first step by implementing one of the strategies mentioned above. Whether it’s seeking therapy, going for a nature walk, or setting clearer boundaries, your mental health is the foundation of your effectiveness as a leader.
Share this article with any of your fellow leaders who may find this helpful and start the conversation about mental health at the top. Collectively we can make sustainable leadership the norm.