This is burning leaders out

A controversial statement:

Servant leadership is burning leaders out.

You might not agree with me.

But I see it first-hand.

I coach leaders who pour themselves into their teams.

They give.
They adapt.
They “serve.”

And behind the scenes?

They’re overwhelmed.
They’re under-resourced.
And they’re quietly drowning in responsibility.

Here’s what no one wants to admit:

When servant leadership becomes self-sacrifice, it stops being leadership.

These leaders aren’t modeling strength.
They’re modeling burnout.

Somewhere along the way, “servant” started to eclipse “leader.”
And that’s a problem.

Because leadership isn’t about doing everything for your people.
It’s about empowering them to lead too.

It’s about boundaries.
Decisions.
Accountability.
Clarity.

Service without strategy = martyrdom.

That’s not leadership.
That’s burnout dressed up in virtue.