Reposted from Tim Richardson

How High-Achieving Leaders Avoid Burning OutMany executives are running on what one CEO called “about 20% battery” – and trying to lead billion-dollar decisions from that state. In my latest Pausitivity article, I share a personal story from a luxury resort turnaround and three simple ways leaders can use the power of the pause to protect their performance, their people, and their lives outside of work. In 2001, I took an assignment with a Four-Star/Four Diamond luxury resort to help them get the coveted AAA Five Diamond and Five Star rating. I was onsite working with the leadership team two to three days a week while continuing to speak to corporate and association audiences across North America. I loved the work, but it was all-consuming. I was there early most mornings leading leadership training, facilitating problem-solving teams, and overseeing a tired orientation which needed a major overhaul. I also visited and benchmarked other top resorts, traveling to The Breakers Hotel, The Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, and The Phoenician, which had what we wanted – Five Stars and Five Diamonds.

The resort had recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation, and the staff needed a shot of inspiration and a vision that it could achieve what had eluded them – international recognition and top industry ratings. There was a significant financial bonus for me if the objective was achieved. The plan was for me to be there two years to help lead the effort.

About nine months in, I began having trouble sleeping. I was going all the time. My waking hours were consumed by my plans at the resort while still managing my speaking business.

I was feeling disconnected from my wife and our young family. I was burned out.
How about you? Are you feeling burned out? You are not alone. It is a top concern in corporate America. Burned-out leaders affect morale. Burned-out leaders are disengaged from their loved ones. Burned-out leaders are ineffective.

Today, burnout isn’t just a private struggle; it’s being recognized as a top concern in corporate America and a strategic business risk. Recent surveys show that a large percentage of executives have seriously considered quitting in the last year, and many report operating at what one CEO described as “about 20% battery” most days. When the people making the biggest decisions are this depleted, it’s not a wellness issue – it’s a performance and valuation issue. Burned-out leaders affect morale. Burned-out leaders are disengaged from their loved ones. Burned-out leaders are ineffective.

The good news is that a different rhythm is possible. The “power of the pause” is not about slowing everything down; it’s about inserting intentional breaks so you can speed up in the right direction. Here are three practical recommendations for executives:

Daily Micro-Pauses (2–5 minutes, multiple times a day) Build short, structured pauses into your day – between meetings, before big decisions, and after difficult conversations. Stand up, breathe deeply, step away from your screen, and ask one simple question: “What matters most in the next hour?” These micro-pauses clear mental clutter, reduce reactivity, and improve the quality of your next action.

Weekly Strategic Pause (60–90 minutes, no interruptions) Block one recurring time slot each week that is non-negotiable. No email, no phone, no meetings. Use it to zoom out: review your top priorities, scan for where you’re over-committed, and decide what to stop, delegate, or delay. This weekly pause creates space for better strategy, sharper focus, and fewer “emergency” pivots later.

Quarterly Reset (half-day or full day, away from the office) Once a quarter, schedule a larger pause specifically for reflection and renewal. Go offsite, unplug, and reflect on questions like: “Where am I depleted?”, “Where am I reactive instead of intentional?”, and “What do I need to change in my calendar, commitments, or boundaries for the next 90 days?” This reset helps you realign your energy with your values and your most important work.

When I finally stepped back during that resort assignment, I realized the real problem wasn’t just the workload – it was the absence of intentional pauses to think, to breathe, to focus on my family, and to be honest about what it was costing me. An earlier wake-up call and one candid conversation about scope and support might have kept me in the role longer and helped us reach the ambitious goals we’d set together.

No bonus or recognition, however prestigious, is worth sacrificing your health, your marriage, or your presence with the people you love.

The right kinds of pauses – daily, weekly, and quarterly – don’t dilute performance; they protect it. They sharpen your decision-making, extend your leadership runway, and allow you to win in your career without losing yourself in the process. That choice is in front of every leader reading this today: keep pushing at “20% battery,” or pause on purpose and lead from a place of clarity, energy, and alignment.

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