Leaders aren’t expected to fix everything. But they do have the ability to influence how people recover, how safe they feel, and how sustainable the pace of work becomes. This isn’t about being the most inspiring person in the room. It’s about showing up in ways that help people feel steady, supported, and safe enough to reset.
Because healthy leadership starts with self-respect, not self-sacrifice
Leadership often comes with blurred lines—between work and rest, empathy and over-functioning, availability and burnout. Many people leaders are praised for being “always on,” “always available,” and “always saying yes.”
There’s a quiet weight that comes with leading people. Not the tasks on a to-do list—but the unseen emotional load. The weight of being available, responsive, strong, consistent, empathetic. The expectation to hold space for others while managing your own pressure behind the scenes.
The go-to person. The problem solver. The one who never says no. High performers carry a quiet risk—and it’s one that often goes unnoticed until they’re halfway out the door. As HR professionals and people leaders, this is where our attention needs to shift: not just toward the obvious signs of struggle, but the hidden ones wrapped in success.
Leaders aren’t expected to fix everything. But they do have the ability to influence how people recover, how safe they feel, and how sustainable the pace of work becomes. This isn’t about being the most inspiring person in the room. It’s about showing up in ways that help people feel steady, supported, and safe enough to reset.
The go-to person. The problem solver. The one who never says no. High performers carry a quiet risk—and it’s one that often goes unnoticed until they’re halfway out the door. As HR professionals and people leaders, this is where our attention needs to shift: not just toward the obvious signs of struggle, but the hidden ones wrapped in success.
