Why the Right Leader Can Change Everything
January 8, 2026
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Burnout is real.
However, being burned out isn’t about being busy. When you look at employee engagement data, accountants are the most engaged in April, their busiest season. If burnout were tied to being busy, wouldn’t all accountants be burned out?
The truth is, burnout is about being out of balance. It’s about forgetting the deeper purpose behind the work. It creeps in when work consumes more than it gives, and energy fades. The danger for high performers and driven teams is that they often don’t recognize burnout until it’s too late.
Burnout is about being out of balance
In a recent episode of the John Eades Podcast, Adam Weber said, “It’s not the volume of work, it’s about when something about work isn’t working.”
Burnout happens when something about work isn’t working
As a leader, your job isn’t just to prevent burnout in others; it’s to recognize it in yourself and model a more sustainable way forward. That begins with understanding that burnout has levels. Knowing where you and your team members are is the first step to combating it.
After coaching and studying leaders for over a decade, one pattern has become unmistakably clear: burnout doesn’t show up all at once, it builds in stages.
Level 5: Thriving
This is the ideal. You feel energized, challenged in the best way, and fulfilled by both your work and life outside of it. You’re operating in your zone of genius, managing your time well, and maintaining healthy boundaries. It’s sustainable and it shows.
Level 4: Stretched
You’re busy, maybe even overloaded at times, but you still find purpose in what you’re doing. The workload is heavy, but you’re coping. Stretched isn’t bad, in fact it can be where breakthroughs happen. However, it can easily slip into strain if it continues without recovery.
Level 3: Strained
Work is starting to take a toll. You feel overwhelmed more days than not. Stress bleeds into your personal life, and small problems feel bigger than they are. You’re still functioning, but your emotional margin is shrinking.
Level 2: Exhausted
The warning lights are flashing. You’re drained, disengaged, and going through the motions. Tasks that used to be easy feel hard. You may be showing up physically, but mentally and emotionally, you’re checked out.
Level 1: Burned Out
This is the bottom. You feel numb, detached, maybe even cynical. There’s no energy left in the tank, and no clear path forward. Without intervention, whether it’s time off, support, or a major reset, performance and well-being will continue to decline.
Burnout doesn’t show up at all once, it builds in stages.
There is no perfect recipe for handing burnout as a leader, since each person is different. However, if you want to help yourself and your team, here are three essential steps.
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About the Author: John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft and The Sales Infrastructure. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.
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