Why Mental Health Is the New Measure of Leadership
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 21
- 5 min read
Dr. DeShaun Williams is the Founder & Chief Writing Coach at Write Your Way, LLC, specializing in empowering authors through writing coaching and book publishing. He is also a multi-bestselling author.
Leadership has always mirrored culture, reflecting what society values most at any given moment. For years, success was defined by performance and results, by how well leaders could push through pressure and deliver outcomes at any cost. Today, that definition is evolving. Leadership is no longer measured solely by what a person achieves, but by how they care, protect, and sustain the people who help make those achievements possible.
Mental wellbeing is not a luxury or a workplace benefit, it is the foundation of sustainable leadership. The most effective leaders understand that their ability to remain grounded, emotionally aware, and resilient directly shapes the environment around them. When people feel safe and supported, they perform at their best, when they don’t, no amount of pressure can compensate.
To lead through the lens of wellbeing is to recognize that care is not a soft skill, it is a stabilizing skill. It builds trust, strengthens culture, and allows innovation to thrive even in the most uncertain times.
The hidden labor of leadership
Leadership requires emotional stamina. Every conversation, decision, and conflict draws from the same mental and emotional reserve that leaders depend on to stay steady. Many executives and managers underestimate how draining it can be to hold space for others while meeting performance expectations of their own.
Research from the Workforce Institute shows that nearly 70 percent of leaders feel burned out, yet less than half of companies provide mental health support designed for management. That imbalance creates an invisible cost, leaders who are depleted begin leading from survival instead of strategy, and teams eventually mirror that instability.
A calm, self-aware leader sets the emotional tone for everyone else. When leaders prioritize their own wellbeing, they model integrity, they remind their teams that it is possible to lead with strength and still take care of themselves. Care does not compromise authority, it enhances it.
Myth one: Mental health belongs to HR, not leadership
It is a common misconception that mental health initiatives belong in the HR department. The truth is that culture starts with leadership. HR may develop policies, but only leaders can normalize open conversations about wellbeing. When those in authority acknowledge stress, burnout, and mental strain as real factors in performance, they make it safe for others to do the same.
A mentally healthy workplace is not one that avoids hard conversations, but one that makes them possible. When leaders communicate with empathy and transparency, employees feel seen and supported, which reduces turnover and boosts engagement.
According to Deloitte, organizations that emphasize wellbeing outperform competitors in productivity, retention, and revenue growth by more than 20 percent. The data reinforces what empathy already proves, caring leadership works.
Myth two: Caring leaders can’t be high-performing
Some believe that compassion weakens discipline, but evidence suggests the opposite. Harvard Business Review found that leaders who demonstrate empathy are twice as likely to retain top talent and three times as likely to foster creative thinking among their teams.
Caring leadership does not mean lowering standards, it means understanding what people need in order to meet them. Accountability and compassion can exist side by side, creating a balance where employees feel motivated rather than pressured. Fear may yield compliance for a moment, but care sustains commitment over time.
The strongest leaders know how to lead with both firmness and humanity, setting expectations without stripping away empathy. Excellence thrives where people feel safe enough to give their best.
Myth three: Self-care is selfish for leaders
Self-care has been overused as a marketing term, but within leadership, it is a form of discipline. It is about emotional regulation, clear thinking, and maintaining energy to make decisions that affect others. When leaders neglect their own wellbeing, their teams eventually feel it. Fatigue becomes frustration, and frustration spreads quickly.
Leaders who take time to rest, reflect, and reset are not stepping away from responsibility, they are protecting their ability to lead effectively. A balanced leader can manage crises without panic and navigate setbacks without losing clarity. Self-care keeps the human behind the title healthy enough to sustain the mission.
Resilience is not built in isolation, it is practiced through boundaries, support, and self-awareness. A leader who invests in their wellbeing is investing in the wellbeing of everyone they serve.
The future of leadership: Care as culture
In the new world of work, emotional intelligence is no longer optional. The pandemic years forced companies to confront what happens when people are treated as resources instead of humans. Burnout became a global epidemic, and “business as usual” was no longer sustainable.
Leaders who adapt to this reality are reshaping what success looks like. They build cultures of trust, not control. They communicate, listen, and adjust with empathy. They recognize that the mental health of their teams influences every metric that matters, productivity, innovation, and retention.
At Write to Stay™, we call this approach Leading Through the Lens of Care. It is a mindset that teaches leaders to see people before performance and humanity before hierarchy. When care becomes part of leadership training, it doesn’t just transform workplaces, it changes lives.
Organizations that embed wellbeing into leadership development are not being “soft.” They are being strategic. They are preparing for a future where talent retention, emotional resilience, and adaptability define success more than any quarterly number ever could.
Reframing the narrative
The world does not need more leaders who can endure pressure. It needs more who can transform it. It needs individuals willing to confront their own limits, regulate their emotions, and lead from authenticity instead of ego.
Great leadership is not about avoiding stress, it’s about managing it with grace. It’s not about being unshakable, but about being self-aware enough to steady yourself when the ground moves. When people feel safe around their leaders, they perform beyond expectation because they know they are valued.
Care-based leadership is not a philosophy reserved for those who are naturally empathetic, it is a learned practice that any leader can adopt. The more we normalize it, the more we redefine what power truly means in the workplace. Real power does not control, it cultivates.
Read more from DeShaun Williams
Dr. DeShaun Williams, President & Mental Health Facilitator & Expert
Dr. DeShaun Williams is the Founder & Chief Writing Coach at Write Your Way, LLC, dedicated to helping aspiring authors achieve their publishing goals through personalized coaching and guidance. Inspired by the wisdom of his late grandfather, DeShaun founded his business to empower writers to take control of their creative journeys. He is also the author of From the Valley to the Summit, where he shares insights on overcoming obstacles and reaching new heights. DeShaun’s passion is helping others realize their potential and bring their stories to life.
