Burnout vs. Misalignment: How to Spot It in Your Leadership - Episode 333
Feb 17, 2026
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Here's what no one tells you about strengths: knowing them isn't enough. Many high-performing leaders know their strengths well and still feel drained or disconnected—not because they’re doing something wrong, but because something is out of alignment. This episode explores why strengths alone aren’t enough and what to notice when leadership starts feeling heavier than it should.
I also unpack the difference between burnout and misalignment. Misalignment shows up quietly—through constant urgency, reduced presence, or emotional fatigue—and often appears long before burnout does. By paying attention to energy and emotional signals, leaders can realign sooner, practice their strengths more intentionally, and lead with greater clarity and sustainability.
Top 3 Takeaways:
- Knowing your strengths isn’t the same as leading in alignment with them. Strengths used out of habit can drain energy when they aren’t applied intentionally.
- Misalignment comes before burnout. Feeling constantly “on,” impatient, or disconnected are early signals—not personal failures.
- Your energy is leadership feedback. Irritability, urgency, and fatigue often point to misalignment, not incompetence—listening sooner changes everything.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 1:00 — Differences Between Burnout and Misalignment
- Minute 3:00 – How Energy Acts as Honest Feedback
- Minute 4:00 — Using The Authentic Imprint Assessment to Identify Misalignment
Resources from This Episode:
- Take the free 3-minute Authentic Imprint™ Assessment
- Get a copy of the book, The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within
- Plan your days by actively using your strengths with The Strengths Journal™
- Book a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your executive and team development needs
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