Leading Well: Purpose, Identity & Burnout
We’ve all been told to “find our purpose.” Like it’s hiding under the sofa, next to the missing remote. But purpose isn’t something you find.
It’s something you build.
The Whisper vs. The Scream
Oprah nailed it: “Listen to the whispers before they become screams.”
Purpose rarely shows up with fireworks. It’s more like a quiet nudge, a tap on the shoulder. The trouble is, most of us are too busy doom-scrolling or drowning in noise to notice.
Purpose, Wellbeing & Burnout
Trying to lead, work, or live out of alignment with your purpose is like running a marathon in the wrong shoes. Painful. Unsustainable.
Here’s how it shows up:
Burnout, when you give too much to the wrong things and lose yourself in the process.
Imposter syndrome, purpose playing hide and seek.
The constant feeling of 'meh', a red flag that your work isn’t lighting you up.
Purpose isn’t just about meaning. It’s fuel. It makes work sustainable. When we align it with our identity and values, we don’t just survive, we will thrive.
So many leaders I work with are exhausted. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t care for themselves well enough. They push through. They grind. They skip the things that keep them fuelled, thinking rest is a luxury, not a necessity. They are always on, always busy.
But, if you want to lead well, you have to live well.
The Leader’s Fuel Kit
🔋 Physical Health – Move daily, even if it’s just a walk. Your body isn’t just a brain transport system. Movement = energy.
💤 Sleep like your leadership depends on it (because it does). Poor sleep, poor decisions. Simple.
🧠 Mental Clarity – Create space for deep work. Busy isn’t a badge of honour. Protect time to think, strategize, and reconnect.
🚫 Learn to say ‘no’ without guilt. Overcommitting drains energy. A drained leader isn’t leading, they’re just managing chaos.
🤝 Emotional Wellbeing Find people who get it and get you. Leadership is lonely without the right support. Build your team and your support system accordingly.
🎉 Joy matters. Hobbies aren’t indulgent, they’re essential. Creativity and play fuel better work. (I recently picked up roller skating again. My inner six-year-old insisted.)
When leaders take care of themselves, they lead with more clarity, energy, and impact. And when they don’t, they run the risk of burn out and the role model the exact opposite of what gets the best from their own people.
They push, rush, multi-task, cram it all in.
And that isn’t leading at all.
So, here’s a quick couple of suggestions to help tune back in this week:
The Whisper Test 🚀
Something’s been nudging you. Listen. Ask yourself:
What idea won’t leave me alone?
What work or activity energises me instead of draining me?
If failure wasn’t a factor, what would I do?
Create the Messy First Draft 🛠
Forget perfect. Start now. Say yes to something that excites (but slightly terrifies) you. Clarity comes from action, not overthinking.
You get to claim what’s important to you.
Purpose is a compass, not a map.
It’s not a fixed destination. It shifts. It grows. But one thing I think is certain purpose, identity and alignment to our values fuel wellbeing. It beats burnout. It creates leadership and permission in workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and alive.
So, if you feel a nudge, a whisper, just listen.
That whisper is waiting for you to trust it.