Leadership is more than just managing teams and meeting targets. It’s about setting the tone for organizational culture, inspiring others to follow, and driving change that positively affects the lives of those within the company and beyond. However, the weight of leadership can sometimes come at a cost, as leaders themselves often fall prey to burnout. Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a board-certified family physician and wellness performance coach, highlights the complexities of leadership, emphasizing the importance of managing critical relationships to avoid the emotional and mental toll that leadership often demands.
The Hidden Costs of Leadership
Dr. Mitchell believes that many leaders underestimate the true costs of leadership. It’s not uncommon for leaders to become preoccupied with measurable metrics like profits, revenue, and growth while neglecting the intangible but critical factors, such as the well-being of their teams and, most importantly, themselves. “I understand that the people I serve are more than just numbers,” she explains. “To truly capture my vision for them, I need to engage them deeper.”
Leaders focusing solely on traditional metrics often miss the underlying human costs of burnout, exhaustion, and strained relationships. The pressure to meet objectives can create an environment where personal and professional relationships suffer, leading to diminished well-being for both the leader and the team. Dr. Mitchell’s experiences as a wellness strategist and coach have taught her the importance of incorporating empathy and compassion into leadership roles and shifting away from rigid, traditional styles.
Empathy and the Power of Leadership
Empathy in leadership is not a new concept, but Dr. Mitchell’s insights provide a fresh perspective on its critical role in preventing burnout. Through her own leadership journey, she learned that effective leaders strike a delicate balance between firm boundaries and compassion. While studying at Harvard University’s online learning platform, Dr. Mitchell learned how trust and responsiveness are key elements of successful leadership. These elements are particularly valuable in fostering a healthy workplace culture and reducing burnout.
Empathy is not just theoretical—studies show that 84% of CEOs believe empathy improves business performance, and employees are more motivated and productive when they perceive their leaders as empathetic. Dr. Mitchell emphasizes that true empathy requires recognizing the humanity in those you lead and fostering a workplace where people feel valued and supported.
Incorporating wellness into leadership is another cornerstone of her approach. Dr. Mitchell encourages leaders to recognize the early signs of burnout and take steps to address them proactively. She stresses the importance of considering the eight dimensions of wellness: social, physical, emotional, intellectual, existential (spiritual), occupational, financial, and environmental. When leaders are attuned to these dimensions, they can cultivate a workplace that promotes holistic well-being, increasing productivity and overall satisfaction among team members.
The Burnout Triad: Relationships at the Core
Central to Dr. Mitchell’s philosophy is her concept of the “Burnout Triad,” which identifies three critical relationships that, if neglected, can lead to burnout. These relationships include the relationship with oneself, the relationship with significant others, and the relationship with work and society. This framework emphasizes that burnout is not just a professional issue—it’s rooted in the interconnectedness of personal and professional relationships.
“Conflicts in relationships are normal,” Dr. Mitchell says, “but as an effective leader, you need to be able to navigate and grow from them.” Leadership requires awareness of how personal and professional decisions impact these relationships. For instance, a business decision to relocate headquarters might seem strategically sound but could strain relationships with family or cause cultural disconnects. Leaders must consider the holistic impact of their decisions, recognizing that ignoring one aspect of the triad can negatively affect others.
This relational awareness is key to effective leadership, and Dr. Mitchell encourages leaders to embrace self-reflection and accountability. She refers to Alexander Pope’s poem An Essay on Criticism, noting that “to err is human, to forgive divine.” Leaders must acknowledge when they’ve made mistakes and have the courage to shift course and rectify their decisions in light of how they affect their critical relationships. Such leadership fosters trust, respect, and emotional resilience within an organization.
The Burnout Equation and Leadership Success
Dr. Mitchell has also developed what she calls the “Burnout Equation,” which explains burnout as the result of energy outputs being greater than energy inputs, with energy being the currency of the three critical relationships. If leaders fail to nurture these relationships, the energy deficit grows, eventually leading to burnout. According to Dr. Mitchell, the antidote lies in adopting a leadership style that prioritizes empathy, recognizes the hidden human costs of leadership, and actively promotes personal well-being alongside organizational goals.
Leaders who are attuned to their personal growth, nurture meaningful relationships, and create empathetic workplaces are far better positioned to achieve sustainable success—for themselves and their organizations. By using the Burnout Triad as a guide, they can mitigate the emotional toll of leadership and cultivate a culture that thrives on trust, mutual respect, and holistic well-being.
Dr. Tomi Mitchell’s approach to leadership reminds us that true success requires more than achieving business objectives. It involves fostering environments where relationships flourish, burnout is minimized, and leaders and their teams can reach their full potential.
Published by: Khy Talara
