In today’s fast-paced world, leadership is often equated with the idea of being “superhuman”–handling every challenge effortlessly, leading with unwavering confidence, and achieving the impossible. This may sound like the perfect solution, but it can lead to burnout, exhaustion and ineffective leadership. Leaders don’t have to be “superhuman” to succeed. They just need to become “superhuman.”
To be “superhuman”, we must embrace our human strengths and acknowledge our vulnerabilities. Prioritizing mental health, emotional intelligence and a sense of direction is the key to fostering sustainable leadership. This balanced approach benefits not only the leader, but also their team in order to achieve success more authentically and sustainably.
1. The trap of “busyness” – Why it’s not helping anyone
The pressure to always be “on” in an age of constant connection is overwhelming. Leaders must multitask and juggle many priorities while always being available. This “always-busy” culture, while it may appear productive, can actually hurt individual and team performance.
Over-busyness can lead to poor decision making and disengaged team members, according to research. Leaders who are constantly overwhelmed by tasks become less able to think critically or engage meaningfully with other people. Instead of motivating their teams, leaders become the embodiments of stress. This can have a negative impact on the entire organisation.
2. The “Superhuman” Fallacy: A recipe for burnout
Leaders often try to be superhuman by juggling every task and meeting every expectation. This relentless pursuit of perfectionism can lead to burnout – a state where you are emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. Burnout can reduce empathy, emotional intelligence and cognitive function, all of which are essential for effective leadership.
Leaders who are overworked and under-rested will find it harder to connect with their team members. The “superhuman’ mentality encourages greater output without recognising rest and resilience. Leaders who lack balance risk being disconnected from their team, which could negatively impact performance and morale.
3. The Case for Human Centred Leadership
In order to combat burnout and busyness, we should focus on becoming “superhuman”. This approach emphasizes emotional intelligence, clarity and resilience – human qualities that are essential for authentic leadership. Leaders who take the time to understand themselves and their limitations will be able to build stronger relationships with their team, working together towards shared goals.
Leaders should prioritize time for clarity instead of fighting the constant cycle of busyness. It means taking a step back, re-evaluating goals and making decisions with a clearer perspective. Leaders can make better decisions by setting boundaries and taking time to reflect.
4. Clarity is the key to breaking the cycle
Clarity is one of the most essential aspects of sustainable leadership. Leaders’ minds can become cluttered by stress and confusion when they are overwhelmed. This mental fog hinders creativity and decision-making. Leaders who gain clarity are able to see situations with a new perspective. They can make better decisions and communicate more effectively with their team.
Clarity not only improves individual performance, but also team collaboration. Clarity in communication between leaders and their teams is key to keeping them motivated and aligned. By taking the time to clarify, leaders can confidently set the direction and guide their team towards success.
5. Leadership by example: the impact on your team
Leadership is more than just managing tasks. It’s about inspiring people to do their best. Leaders who embrace a humane approach set an example for the teams they lead. They demonstrate that taking breaks, seeking support and embracing vulnerability are acceptable. This creates a safe environment for team members to express themselves, prioritise well-being and build trust.
Leaders who put a focus on clarity and wellbeing will see positive ripple effects in their teams. Clarity improves communication, morale and performance. Teams who feel aligned and supported are more likely than others to be productive and engaged.
The Path to Sustainable Leadership
Rather than striving to be “superhuman,” leaders should focus on becoming “super-human”–embracing the strengths of human qualities like clarity, empathy, and resilience. This approach helps leaders break out of the cycle of busyness and burnout. It also creates a thriving, healthy work environment. Leaders can inspire their team to invest in their well-being by leading authentically and investing in themselves. Leadership that respects both the strengths and limitations of people is key to success in the long term, for the leader as well as the organization.
We can free ourselves from the stress, overwork and other problems that characterize modern leadership by focusing on clarity, wellbeing and human-centredness. Then we can lead in a sustainable way, which is supportive for ourselves and our team.
