And even if you’re not their manager, your support could be exactly what helps them pull up before things get worse. The challenge? Knowing what to say. You don’t want to overstep, make it awkward, or get it wrong. So here’s how to check in in a way that’s human, helpful, and respectful.
They’re your star employee. The one you trust. The one everyone leans on. And they might be burning out in silence. In many workplaces, the people who seem the most “together” are often the ones quietly struggling the most. Here’s why.
A belief that you’re not allowed to struggle.
That leaders must be resilient, composed, always calm—even when they’re burning out behind the scenes. But here’s the truth: you’re human first, leader second. And the moment you allow yourself to say, “I’m not doing great right now,” you create space for others to do the same.
Burnout isn’t a buzzword—it’s real, rising, and reshaping the way we think about leadership in Australian workplaces. We know how it shows up: exhaustion, cynicism, poor performance, disengagement. What we talk about less is what happens after. After someone’s hit the wall. After they take leave. After they return, quieter than before.
Why early intervention is the best strategy you’ve got
Burnout doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. It creeps in quietly—behind polite smiles, endless meetings, and “I’m just busy” emails. And by the time someone finally breaks down, checks out, or hands in their resignation? It’s already too late. But what if we could spot it sooner?
Let’s set the record straight: being good at your job doesn’t mean you’re okay.
You can hit every deadline. Show up to every meeting with your camera on. Carry your team. Lead with grace. Win awards. Get promoted. Deliver results that make your boss proud.
And still — you can feel like you’re falling apart inside.
Managers are often expected to support everyone else while rarely being supported themselves. They’re people too, with real emotions, real stress, and real needs. If we want to build workplaces that are truly safe and sustainable, we need to normalize checking in on our leaders. Because mental health is for everyone — not just the people on the team, but the people guiding it.
Work fatigue isn’t just “being tired.” It’s deeper — like a slow, steady erosion of your energy, creativity, and motivation. It’s emotional exhaustion dressed up as "I'm fine" on Slack. If you're nodding along, you're not alone — and you're definitely not broken. Let's talk about why this happens and how to start climbing out of the Monday-forever loop.
