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.