By Valeria Torres, Corporate Psychologist
They don’t teach this in business school. There’s no manual that prepares leaders for that constant tension, even after a 14-hour day, when you’re still replaying team conversations in your head. No one tells you that success sometimes feels less like winning and more like constantly trying not to lose.
I’ve worked with executives who travel across continents, lead virtual meetings at midnight, and sign contracts that affect thousands of people. On the outside, flawless; on the inside, silently struggling with exhaustion that no one admits.
Burnout is not just tiredness. It’s the slow erosion of motivation, the loss of clarity, and eventually, the collapse of the very system that once made you thrive.
The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. But at the executive level, this definition barely captures the magnitude of what is experienced:
Every mistake feels monumental: a wrong decision can impact entire industries.
Visibility never decreases: your decisions are scrutinized by investors, boards, employees, and the media.
Loneliness grows: the higher you rise, the fewer true peers you have.
I remember a CEO managing teams across four continents. On the outside, impeccable: strategic decision-making, leading meetings, inspiring others. Inside, completely alone. According to a 2023 Deloitte survey, nearly 70% of executives considered leaving their roles in the past year to protect their mental health. McKinsey adds another layer: leaders under sustained stress are 40% more likely to experience declines in decision-making, innovation, and empathy.
This is burnout at its highest level: when the demands of leadership erode the very qualities that got you there.
We often glorify resilience as pushing forward at any cost. But true resilience is recovery.
It’s the quiet discipline of knowing when to pause. It’s the courage to rest when your inner narrative tells you to keep going. It’s the humility to ask for support before everything falls apart.
I know a CFO overseeing million-dollar budgets. His analytical talent was impressive, but he slept only a few hours and lived in constant alert mode. When he started building a support system—coaching, structured rest, and peer circles where he could speak honestly—the transformation was profound: clearer thinking, better decisions, and a more motivated team.
Executives who build sustainable careers are not necessarily the toughest. They are those who design recovery systems with the same intentionality as growth strategies:
Structured rest: treat downtime with the same seriousness as a board meeting.
Peer circles: spaces where honesty and vulnerability are safe.
Mental training: journaling, coaching, mindfulness to sharpen clarity under pressure.
Professional support: recognizing that therapy or coaching is leverage, not weakness.
I once worked with a CEO who appeared to have it all under control: precise decisions, visible results, constant recognition. Inside, though, he carried silent anxiety. Every minor error felt catastrophic. When we implemented reflection routines, strategic pauses, and safe spaces to share doubts, he experienced tangible change: more energy, better focus, and, most importantly, deeper connection with his team.
Leadership at the top is a paradox. The very traits that get you there—perfectionism, resilience, relentless drive—can quietly become unsustainable patterns.
If unmanaged, these strengths can transform into habits that are harmful:
Working harder when delegation is needed.
Saying “yes” when your calendar is already full.
Mistaking constant activity for meaningful progress.
But resilience changes the rules. Leaders who integrate recovery into their rhythm not only survive—they lead with greater clarity, empathy, and strategic vision. Resilience, combined with mental training, becomes a true competitive advantage.
If you want to explore how strengthening the executive mind can transform performance, I invite you to read Beyond Strategy: Why Mental Fitness is the Executive Edge No One Talks About.
Building sustainable leadership doesn’t mean carrying everything on your shoulders; it means creating internal systems that allow you to lead consciously, effectively, and without losing your humanity along the way.