Burnout Prevention for Healthcare Leaders: Auditing Your Four Energy Dimensions

In our last post, we explored why burnout is such a stubborn companion for leaders in human performance healthcare—and why traditional solutions often miss the mark. Now, let’s get practical. The first step to beating burnout isn’t just working less or taking more breaks. It’s understanding where your energy truly goes, and what brings it back.

 

The Four Energy Categories

Every leadership role is a blend of different types of work. Some tasks leave you buzzing with energy; others sap your reserves. To make sense of this, we break energy into four categories:

• Relational Energy: The highs and lows of working with people—athletes, colleagues, stakeholders, and teams. Think feedback conversations, conflict resolution, mentoring, and support.
• Operational Energy: The systems, admin, and logistics that keep things running. Scheduling, documentation, troubleshooting processes, and managing compliance.
• Growth Energy: Learning, reflection, and development. Professional courses, self-assessment, setting goals, and receiving feedback.
• Purpose Energy: Connecting your daily work to bigger goals and values. Advocating for your department’s vision, celebrating team wins, and aligning tasks with what matters most.

 

High-Drain vs. High-Impact Tasks

Not all tasks are created equal. Some are draining but crucial for your team’s success (high-drain, high-impact). Others take a lot out of you but don’t move the needle (high-drain, low-impact). And then there are those rare gems that energize you and make a real difference.

Take a moment to reflect: Which tasks from each category give you a buzz? Which leave you flat? For example, maybe you love mentoring junior staff (relational, energizing), but find compliance paperwork exhausting (operational, draining).

 

The Power of Energizing Tasks

It’s not just about minimizing drains. Intentionally scheduling energizing tasks as a reward after high-drain, high-impact work can help you recover and stay motivated. For instance, after a challenging stakeholder meeting, you might debrief with a trusted peer or spend time on a project that excites you. These moments of recharge aren’t a luxury—they’re essential for sustainable leadership.

 

Why Awareness Matters

Awareness is the foundation for change. When you know your energy sources and drains, you can: – Plan your week with intention – Pair draining tasks with energizing ones – Protect time for activities that refill your tank

Try this quick self-check: List one task from each category that drains you and one that energizes you. Where can you make small swaps or schedule rewards?

 

What’s Next

In our next post, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the Leadership Energy Audit—a practical tool to help you pinpoint your biggest energy drains and boosts, and build a week that works for you.

Remember: Awareness is the first step. Change comes from small, intentional shifts that honor both your impact and your wellbeing.