How Leaders Balance Their Own Mental Health and Their Team’s
Leadership has long been synonymous with strength, resilience, and unwavering stability, but let’s be real—leaders are human, too.
The pressure to support a team while managing personal stress is a balancing act that few talk about. In a world where burnout is rampant and mental health is finally part of workplace conversations, the best leaders aren’t the ones who power through at all costs—they’re the ones who know when to step back, recalibrate, and lead by example.
So how do you balance taking care of yourself while showing up for your team?
The Myth of the Invincible Leader
For decades, leadership was framed as a grind-it-out, no-days-off role. If the team struggled, leaders were expected to absorb the stress, fix the problems, and push forward without showing cracks.
But that model is outdated and unsustainable.
Leaders who neglect their own well-being don’t just suffer personally—they make worse decisions, struggle with empathy, and contribute to toxic work environments.
The reality?
Your mental health as a leader directly impacts your team’s well-being. Burned-out leaders create burned-out teams. Anxious leaders create anxious workplaces. Leaders who model healthy boundaries, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence? They build resilient, engaged, and high-performing teams.
ps. no wonder why our younger generations are saying ‘no, thank you’ to middle management—we made it look hard. Overloaded with meetings + burnout—hard pass.
Balancing Personal Mental Health While Leading Others
So, how do you walk the tightrope of leadership without falling into the abyss of burnout or emotional exhaustion?
1. Prioritize Your Own Mental Health First
Put your oxygen mask on first—or so the flight attendants say.
It may feel counterintuitive, but the best way to support your team is to take care of yourself first. You can do this by:
Setting boundaries and being intentional about when you’re “on” or when it’s time to step away.
Take time to check in with yourself. Reminder to not power through when you’re running on empty.
Build a supportive system around you. Mentors, therapists, other leadership peers as long as you can safely vent, process and gain perspective.
2. Model the Behavior You Want to See
Leaders set the tone for what’s acceptable in a workplace. If you never take breaks, answer emails at midnight, or ignore stress, your team will feel pressured to do the same. Instead:
Take PTO and encourage others to do the same.
Normalize mental health conversations. A simple “I needed a mental reset this weekend” sends a strong message.
Set realistic expectations. High performance doesn’t mean running on fumes.
3. Create a Psychologically Safe Team Culture
A leader’s ability to support their team’s mental health isn’t about offering free meditation apps—it’s about creating a culture where people feel safe, valued, and supported. Yes, easier said than done; but here is how you can start:
Encourage open communication: Ask your team, “How’s your workload? What do you need?”
Check in regularly: Not just about work, but about how people are feeling.
Recognize and address stressors: If burnout is creeping in, act early rather than waiting for a crisis.
4. Know When to Step Back (and Ask for Help)
The best leaders don’t go it alone. They delegate, trust their teams, and recognize when they need external support.
If you find yourself constantly overwhelmed, irritable, or disengaged, that’s a sign to reassess your workload, as these are signs of burnout—seek help.
Leverage your team. You don’t have to carry everything alone—empower others.
Seek professional support. Therapy, coaching, or leadership development can make a huge difference.
Redefine what success looks like. A healthy leader who sustains their energy long-term is far more effective than a burned-out one who crashes and burns.
Remember, Leadership is a Marathon, Not a Race
Balancing mental health as a leader isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The leaders of the future won’t be those who push through exhaustion at all costs. They’ll be the ones who embrace self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and sustainable leadership practices.
By taking care of yourself, modeling healthy behaviors, and creating a psychologically safe workplace, you don’t just protect your own well-being—you build stronger, healthier, and more engaged teams.
Because at the end of the day, a leader’s job isn’t just to drive results. It’s to create an environment where both they and their team can thrive.