The Compass
Reflections, strategies, and real leadership insights to help you navigate change, challenge, and growth.
The Emotional Tax of Leadership: Why Burnout Is the Biggest Competitive Threat
Leadership today demands far more than business acumen. It demands emotional stamina.
The modern leader isn’t just tasked with driving outcomes. They’re expected to hold space, regulate culture, coach performance, and buffer stress. The cost? Emotional burnout.
A 2024 Beyond Blue study found that nearly 60% of Australian media and advertising leaders report high levels of stress, emotional fatigue, and decision exhaustion. Most worry they “can’t show weakness.” That silence is dangerous.
In leadership, it’s not just about what you say. it’s about what you do after you say it. Follow-through is the difference between a leader who inspires trust and one who loses it.
In leadership, it’s not just about what you say. it’s about what you do after you say it. Follow-through is the difference between a leader who inspires trust and one who loses it.
In the end, follow-through is about integrity. It’s about being the kind of leader who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. When leaders follow through on their commitments, they create a culture of trust, accountability, and reliability—qualities that every strong leader should strive for.