You can’t lead well if you’re running on empty.
But too many of us try anyway.

It started like every other day.
Calendar stacked. Inbox full. Back-to-back calls.

But something was different that morning.
I was tired—and not the kind a good night’s sleep fixes.
I felt short with people. Detached. Out of rhythm with my team.

Then it hit me:
I wasn’t leading. I was reacting.
From task to task. Call to call.
All output. No presence.
And the truth was… I had been running on empty for weeks.

I had ignored the signs—shorter tempers, surface-level check-ins, the creeping feeling that I wasn’t really helping, just handling.
That’s when I knew: something had to change.

The Leadership Wake-Up

As leaders, we often think of care as something we give to others.
Support your team. Guide the vision. Coach with clarity.

But here’s the reality:
You can’t coach from an empty cup.
You can’t create psychological safety when your nervous system is shot.
You can’t model growth when you’re operating in survival mode.

That morning, I realized something I’d been ignoring:
If I want to lead others well, I have to take care of the person they’re following.

The Cost of Disconnection

When we don’t care for ourselves, we lose more than energy.

We lose:
• Patience in the moments that matter
• Curiosity in coaching conversations
• Perspective in conflict
• Creativity in problem-solving
• And the ability to model what we expect from others

Left unchecked, exhaustion becomes culture.
Speed becomes the only metric.
And people learn that wellbeing is optional—even for those at the top.

Burnout in leadership echoes.
It drains decision quality, dulls emotional tone, and teaches teams to deprioritize wellbeing.

And the longer you ignore the signs, the more your people absorb the message that exhaustion is the expectation.

Reframing Self-Care as Leadership

This isn’t about bubble baths or spa days (though no judgment if that’s your thing).

It’s about honoring the truth that sustainable leadership requires boundaries, rest, and renewal—on purpose.

It’s about knowing when to say no.
Taking PTO without guilt.
Taking a walk outside between meetings.
Eating lunch away from your inbox.

These aren’t indulgences.
They’re leadership hygiene.

Because here’s the truth:
If your calendar reflects everyone else’s priorities but not your health, you’re not leading—you’re reacting.

You can’t model balance if you’re running on fumes.
You can’t pour into someone else’s development if you’re running dry.

Your Turn

Take a look at the way you lead this week:

• Are you leading from purpose—or surviving on adrenaline?
• What’s one small shift you can make to lead yourself a little better today?

Be the leader your health would vote for.
You can’t lead on empty.
And no one benefits from your burnout.