Leading with Purpose: Avoiding Burnout Through Impact-Driven Leadership — Julie Roehm
As we head into the final stretch of the year, with the new school year underway and the holidays on the horizon, the reality of burnout is more palpable than ever. Leaders across industries are grappling with unprecedented levels of stress and fatigue. When I came across “How to Be a Purpose-Driven Leader Without Burning Out” by HBR, it echoed many of my thoughts on the evolution of leadership. The article suggests moving from Robert Greenleaf’s classic servant leadership to a model of “noble-purpose leadership,” which shifts the focus from simply serving others to making a meaningful impact.
Throughout my career, particularly in roles like Chief Experience Officer (CXO), I’ve seen how servant leadership can feel overwhelming. Leaders often find themselves stretched thin, trying to meet everyone’s needs. The HBR article highlights this, explaining how the constant drive to serve can lead to exhaustion. Noble-purpose leadership, however, reframes this approach. Instead of asking, “What do you need from me?”, leaders ask, “What support will help us achieve our shared goal?” This subtle shift encourages team members to take more ownership of their success, easing the burden on leaders while keeping everyone focused on a common purpose.
This idea of reframing also applies to decision-making. Instead of prioritizing what will make everyone happy, noble-purpose leaders focus on the broader impact, asking questions like, “What impact will this decision have on our team or customers?” In my experience leading transformation projects, this approach has been crucial for staying aligned with long-term goals rather than getting bogged down by short-term concerns.
The article also touches on coaching, encouraging leaders to focus their efforts on team members with the most growth potential. This approach resonates with my experience: by investing more in top performers, you create a ripple effect that elevates the entire team.
Noble-purpose leadership offers a way to lead with both impact and sustainability. By focusing on a shared goal, leaders can avoid burnout while driving meaningful results — something that is more important now than ever.
Read the original article here.
Julie Roehm is an innovative customer-centric marketer known for strategizing profitable corporate turnarounds with fast revenue growth via capturing stories that resonate with clients. She was named “Marketer of Year” by BrandWeek, Brand Innovators ‘Top 50 Women in Brand Marketing’, the Tri-State Diversity Council’s “Most Powerful and Influential Woman”, an Automotive News “Marketing All-Star” and one of Working Mother’s “Top 25 Women”. She’s on the forefront of new marketing ideas, and being result-oriented, she uses her vast marketing experience in all facets of business strategy and marketing execution to help deliver the message of the brand.
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn.
