Burnout and early retirements
Have you noticed how many top executives in higher ed. are retiring early or looking to change careers, even those who are not pressured by their institutions to leave? Higher ed. leadership has become an exhausting role, not because of the long hours but because it’s emotionally draining.
Top executives have to keep their composure, listen to everyone else’s complaints, and give employees a sense of certainty in uncertain times. They act as containers for people’s anxiety and fears and often have to repress their own emotions when they are going through a hard time. That repression can turn into self-abandonment, and lead to extreme fatigue that no amount of vacation days can cure.
Workload vs. psychological burden
My work has shifted in the last few years. Previously, I would work with my clients on mindset, time management, delegation, and setting healthy boundaries. Implementing powerful strategies made them successful and kept them fulfilled and recharged. That is no longer enough.
Now, I see leaders who have excellent executive presence and ability to make people feel “in good hands” feel exhausted no matter how well organized and positive they are. That is because they are absorbing everyone else’s anxiety and don’t have an outlet to take care of their own needs. When they become clients, I coach them to expand how they view their role from selflessly being of service to others, to also taking care of themselves to prevent burnout.
Emotional containment
Being the emotional container, or shock absorber, of a large department or an entire institution takes its toll. Imagine (you can probably relate) absorbing faculty grievances without reacting, being under the pressure of demands from the Board of Trustees, managing student issues with calmness and reassurance, shielding cabinet members from political volatility, and having to suppress emotions to project stability to the campus community. In a way, leaders become the nervous system of the people they lead as well as other stakeholders. They cannot afford to fall apart, or else everything else will fall apart too!
Challenging times
Most institutions are suffering from chronic uncertainty, enrollment decline, budget reductions, program cuts, and layoffs. Politically, higher ed. has been under attack for quite some time and is under extreme scrutiny. In addition, AI has created tremendous disruption and forced colleges and universities to adapt quickly to constant changes.
Some leaders have become numb, others have been more irritable, and some suffer from “decision fatigue”. Off the record, many confess they look forward to retirement or contemplate a career change. In that climate, I don’t blame them! However, it is possible to end burnout without running away. When time off isn’t restorative anymore, it is time to seek resources for nervous system regulation, improved outlook and mindset, and a safe space for complete self-expression.
Solutions to prevent or cure burnout
While personally, I still believe that true leaders have the capacity to remain calm in the middle of chaos, and demonstrate high emotional intelligence, if that requires self-suppression, it’s not sustainable. Leaders need a safe container too. That can be a confidential executive coach, a life coach, a therapist, or support from peers at other institutions. There needs to be a safe space where leaders don’t have to perform and can be honest with themselves and someone else. Being able to process heavy emotions and feeling understood and cared for, is essential for all human beings. Frustration, disappointment, and grief need to be released instead of stored in the body.
When things were simpler, I would work with clients to empower them to develop self-confidence, know that they would be ok no matter what might happen at work, and lead by example. They modeled calm, charisma, discernment, and diplomacy. That is no longer enough. Given the external pressure, it is time to reclaim a broader range of emotions to honor every aspect of what it means to be human. But that needs to happen in a way that is appropriate. Strength isn’t never feeling heavy emotions but feeling them and knowing how to process them. What we avoid or resist tends to get bigger. There is no hiding from discomfort.
Questions for you to ponder
What makes you feel exhausted?
Whose anxiety and stress are you absorbing?
In what ways do you release all that tension to maintain well-being?
When was the last time you felt safe to speak candidly without having to filter your thoughts?
Do you feel overextended?
Do you feel isolated despite being around numerous people?
In higher ed., executive burnout is not a time management issue, but an emotional burden often coupled with isolation and lack of support. Leaders do not burn out because they are weak or inadequate but because they are holding too much for too long.
Next steps
If you can relate to what I wrote, it’s because you are not alone. Leaders don’t need advice or “how to” cookie-cutter approaches; they need a container for their own emotions and a safe space to think and uncover new insights.
Since you can’t speak freely publicly, you may feel isolated but believe me, I see common patterns among clients and I understand your challenges. The good news is that you don’t need to do everything without support, and hold all the pressure on your own. If you are curious about the possibility of working with me, I invite you to click here to schedule a call with me to get to know each other. I can help you sustain clarity and steadiness in complex situations, without having to repress your own emotions. Let me be that container for you. Every said during exploratory calls or coaching sessions is confidential. You are safe with me. Talk to you soon?
About the author: Dr. Audrey Reille has empowered thousands of professionals through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, speaking engagements, and online courses. Audrey is the go-to executive coach for leaders in higher education administration. She empowers them to thrive by improving communication, confidence, executive presence, effectiveness, reducing stress, optimizing strategies, improving professional relationships, and developing a strong and empowered mindset.