Mike Pelfini — 07 March 2025

Holistic leadership finds success by emphasizing well-being in the workplace while purpose-driven leadership finds meaning by identifying core values. Together they help to minimize burnout in the workplace to thrive.

“Leaders are burning out faster than ever.”  That’s a key takeaway from an article by Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa. He writes, “CEO tenures have dropped to record lows [and] turnover rates have soared after the ‘Great Resignation. . . . [L]eaders I speak to say they feel like they’re skiing ahead of an avalanche that’s getting closer every second.” 

How can leaders stay ahead of the avalanche without losing themselves in the process?  Holistic leadership and purpose-driven leadership offer a way forward. 

The word “holistic” refers to treating the parts of any system as an interconnected whole. In the case of a person, it means remaining aware of the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. Purpose-driven leadership can be thought of as an aspect of holistic leadership that seeks and creates meaning in the workplace.

This article identifies ways to develop holistic and purpose-driven approaches to leadership. 

Finding well-being through holistic leadership

“Isn’t it crazy how well the Industrial Age trained us to separate business from life?  We are one person, living one life,” Kleinfeld writes. Well-being is not just a soft, feel-good idea. It can drive business outcomes and financial performance. 

A McKinsey Health Institute study conducted in the UK found that the economic value of well-being could be “from 6 to 17 percent of the United Kingdom’s GDP.” The report also found that neglecting well-being “could cost a median-size S&P company between $228 million and $355 million per year in lost productivity.”

Holistic leadership offers ways to maintain balance and enhance well-being, so leaders and team members can thrive instead of burning out.

Physical well-being – addressing demands. One mistake that leaders can make is to ignore the impact on well-being that accrues when pressures rise. Grinding through high pressure situations is not sustainable, and can negatively affect physical and mental well-being. Holistic leadership can help recognize when stressors become too high, and take needed actions to address them.

Promoting healthy lifestyles and stress reduction may not be enough. A McKinsey researcher cautions that although qualities like resilience and perseverance are “meaningful drivers” of well-being, “these alone may not protect you from burning out if the demands are too high.”  (Emphasis added.) 

Practically speaking, that can mean investing in technology, improving procedures, hiring where needed, and making sure people can disconnect from work to recharge. Well-being should be included in any plan for organizational growth. 

Mental well-being – finding balance. Trying to do too much, and trying to keep track of too many things, is a major cause of burn out. Sanjay Khosla, a professor at Northwestern University, suggests conducting an “energy audit” to prioritize time and attention. The exercise is useful for leaders and team members alike.

Consider priorities first. How should you be spending your time to maximize both effectiveness and job satisfaction? Next, review your calendar for the past few months. How have you actually been spending your time? If there is a mismatch, how can you rebalance the scale? 

If the sheer number of tasks is too great, look for ways to delegate responsibilities. If you spend too much of your day in meetings, look for ways to reduce their length and frequency. If there are areas you want to prioritize, make conscious efforts to carve out the time. 

Spiritual well-being – meaning and connection.  Spiritual well-being refers to the need for meaning and connection. But Klaus Kleinfeld observes, “Mentioning spiritual energy makes people want to leave the conversation immediately. Someone recently even asked me: Is a CEO allowed to meditate and take time for reflection?” The answer is a resounding yes! Mahatma Gandhi was famously quoted as saying, “I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.”

Spiritual well-being and spiritual practice will be different for each person. Some may include a regular time for mindfulness or quiet reflection. Others may recharge by being in nature, or by exercising. Any practice, done consistently and with intention, can become a spiritual practice. Finding purpose is another important part of a spiritual practice.

Finding purpose in the workplace

Purpose guides the leader: “Purpose-driven leadership is built on a foundation of trust, collaboration, and a focus on a meaningful mission,” according to a recent Forbes article.  Purpose-driven leadership requires leaders to identify the things that create meaning by focusing on their values. Doing so has both practical and spiritual benefits.

A Deloitte Global Marketing Trends report found that purpose-driven organizations grow at three times the rate of competitors who lack a strong sense of purpose. They also report 30% more innovation and 40% better rates of employee retention than the competition.

A simple way to define purpose is to ask, “Why are we here?” Identify the core values that motivate specific strategies. What, precisely, do you and your organization stand for? How, precisely, do your strategies and organizational culture support what you stand for? Finding purpose is a key to both well-being and success. 

Purpose-driven leadership steers the organization: A leader who is clear about his or her individual purpose can create a vision to guide and energize the entire organization.  “Vision inspires purpose in the workforce,” Kleinfeld writes.

70% of employees state that their sense of purpose is defined by their work, McKinsey reports. Being clear about purpose allows leaders to develop a compelling vision for the work being done every day. That can help attract and retain like-minded team members, increase productivity, and create a more cohesive workforce.

These are just a few of the benefits of holistic leadership and purpose-driven leadership, which intersect each other in significant ways.  If you would like to learn more about these leadership approaches, please contact us.  

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