Leadership Burnout: Urging Leaders to "Put Their Oxygen Mask on First"
Ashley M Ramp1, Thomas S Achey2, Jacalyn Rogers3
1Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Hospital Pharmacy
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Leadership burnout, a growing concern, impacts organizational health and employee well-being. Prioritizing leaders' own wellness is crucial for effective leadership and a resilient workforce.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Organizational Psychology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Burnout is a WHO-recognized condition affecting employee productivity and engagement.
- Frontline staff burnout receives attention, but leadership burnout remains underexplored.
- Nearly 60% of leaders report feeling "used up" daily, yet stigma hinders open discussion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the critical, yet underdiscussed, issue of leadership burnout.
- To underscore the institutional impact of unaddressed leadership burnout.
- To emphasize the necessity of leader well-being for organizational health.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on leadership burnout.
- Analysis of leadership burnout prevalence data.
- Exploration of the consequences of unaddressed leadership burnout.
Main Results:
- Leadership burnout is prevalent, with significant numbers of leaders experiencing exhaustion.
- Stigma and shame prevent leaders from openly acknowledging burnout.
- Lack of literature addressing leader burnout specifically.
Conclusions:
- Leaders are vital in managing organizational burnout, but their own burnout can amplify dysfunction.
- Prioritizing leader well-being is essential for navigating challenges and ensuring team resilience.
- Leaders must "put their own oxygen mask on first" to effectively lead and foster a culture of well-being.
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