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Leaders’ mental health is now emerging as a major issue in modern management. Long pushed into the background, it is now becoming a determining factor in sustainable performance.
In an episode of the podcast 20/20 with L’Express Éducation, Evgeny A. Lukin, Director of Executive Education and MBA programs at Rennes School of Business, highlights the limits of a leadership model historically focused solely on results.
His observation is clear: leaders are trained to achieve objectives, but rarely to preserve their balance over time. This imbalance directly contributes to rising stress, fatigue, and often invisible burnout.
For a long time, performance was associated with endurance, rapid decision-making, and the ability to withstand pressure. However, this view is now reaching its limits. Behind the image of the strong and always-available leader, a more discreet reality is emerging: chronic fatigue, mental overload, isolation, and a gradual loss of clarity.
The real question is no longer just how to perform, but how to sustain performance without burning out.
One of the most critical aspects of leaders’ mental health lies in the invisible nature of burnout.
Unlike a sudden crisis, it develops gradually. A leader can continue to function normally, make decisions, and maintain an image of control, while their energy, focus, and perspective steadily decline.
This phenomenon is particularly present in SMEs, where leaders juggle multiple responsibilities in an environment marked by uncertainty, economic pressure, and constantly accelerating decision-making.
In this context, stress does not disappear. It settles in, becomes normalized, and turns into a permanent state.
Leaders’ mental health now requires a shift in paradigm: performance can no longer be separated from its sustainability.
The concept of resilience is becoming a new standard. It does not mean constantly resisting, but maintaining a stable level of performance without physical or mental imbalance.
This involves rethinking management practices and integrating concrete dimensions such as:
Sustainable performance is primarily based on the ability to regulate effort rather than continuously intensify it.
The parallel with elite sports helps to better understand the challenges of leaders’ mental health.
A high-performing athlete does not rely solely on intensity. They plan effort cycles, incorporate recovery phases, and continuously adjust their level of engagement.
In business, this logic is still underused. Many leaders operate at a constant pace without real regulation.
Yet sustainable performance depends on a balance between engagement and recovery. It requires discipline, a healthy lifestyle, and a clear understanding of one’s limits.
Leaders’ mental health also calls for a rethinking of leadership norms, particularly in France.
Leaders are still often seen as infallible figures, capable of absorbing pressure without showing vulnerability. This perception slows awareness and delays preventive action.
By contrast, modern leadership is based on clarity. Recognizing one’s limits, identifying weak signals, and adjusting one’s approach are becoming essential skills.
This evolution does not weaken authority—it strengthens it.
Leaders’ mental health goes far beyond the individual sphere. It directly influences collective performance.
A balanced leader makes better decisions, communicates more clearly, and creates a more stable work environment. Conversely, unmanaged fatigue can generate tension, uncertainty, and disorganization.
Thus, a company’s performance also depends on the leader’s ability to maintain their own balance.
In light of these challenges, schools and training programs must evolve.
Training a leader is no longer just about transmitting technical skills. It also involves preparing them to manage pressure, understand their internal mechanisms, and sustain their energy over time.
Leaders’ mental health is therefore becoming a key pillar of leadership education.
View professional development programmes
Location : Rennes
Duration : 18 months
Start date : November 2nd 2026
Fees : 37 200 €
