About the Book
From Burnout to Breakthrough is the ultimate guide for leaders striving to balance personal wellbeing with professional success in today’s demanding world.
As leadership roles grow more complex and relentless, the toll on mental health, emotional resilience, and organisational effectiveness is undeniable. This groundbreaking book offers a fresh, practical approach to overcoming burnout, fostering resilience, and redefining leadership through a wellbeing-centred lens. Written by an experienced leader who has faced burnout firsthand, this book goes beyond theory to deliver actionable insights, tools, and strategies that leaders can implement immediately. You’ll learn how to recognise the early warning signs of burnout, harness emotional intelligence, integrate life-first leadership practices, and create a supportive organisational culture that prioritises wellbeing without compromising results. Each phase of the leadership reset is accompanied by complimentary worksheets, templates, trackers, and exercises.
With engaging case studies from leading companies, cutting-edge neuroscience, and a step-by-step leadership reset framework, From Burnout to Breakthrough equips readers with the knowledge and confidence to transform leadership fatigue into sustainable growth and impact.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Why Leadership Burnout Matters
Part I: Understanding the Challenge
1. What is Leadership Burnout? Understanding the Warning Signs
2. Types of Burnout in Leadership
3. Life Before Work: The Foundation of Sustainable Leadership
4. The Neuroscience of Leadership Burnout: How the Brain Reacts to Stress
5. The Cost of Leadership Burnout: Impact on Organisational Success and Financial Stability
Part II: The Leadership Reset Framework
6. Introduction to the Leadership Reset Framework
7. Phase 1 - Recognition: Recognising the Breaking Point
8. Phase 2 - Reflection: Gaining Clarity Through Self Awareness
9. Phase 3 - Realignment: Setting Clear Boundaries and Priorities
10. Phase 4 - Reinvention: Adopting a New Leadership Approach
Part III: Organisation Solutions
11. Organisational Solutions: How Organisations Can Prevent Leadership Burnout
12. Leadership Burnout in Hybrid and Remote Work Environments
13. Building Resilient Leadership Teams: Peer Support and Shared Leadership Models
14. Building a Resilient Leadership Pipeline: Preventing Burnout in Future Leaders
Conclusion: Embracing a Wellbeing First Approach to Leadership
About the Author :
Brad Gaynor is a seasoned educational leader with over 35 years of experience, including 25 in school leadership. As a school performance and development leader, he champions leadership development, evidence-based practices, and school improvement. An award-winning Principal and accredited Coach, Brad advocates for resilient, adaptive leadership and transformative education.
Review :
"As a highly experienced and capable leader, Brad has captured both the essence of and the challenges associated with Principalship. From Burnout to Breakthrough is a powerful, heartfelt guide that transforms personal struggle into a practical framework for sustainable leadership. Brad blends lived experience, neuroscience, and comprehensive strategies to help leaders move from exhaustion to professional growth. His RESET model provides a clear pathway for personal and professional growth and self-care.When all the evidence we have suggests principalship is more challenging than ever before, this book is both timely and highly relevant. It is honest, insightful, and deeply validating - a must-read for anyone ready to lead with resilience, compassion and heart."
Phil Schultz, President, Australian Catholic Primary Principals Association
"Brad’s book is a rare and courageous look at leadership burnout, its warning signs, its impact, and the path back to joy. With honesty, practical strategies, and thought-provoking questions, he reminds us burnout is not a personal failure but an organisational issue. This is essential reading for leaders who want to thrive, not just survive."
Angelka Falkenberg, President, Australian Primary Principals Association
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is a thoughtful contribution by Brad as both a former principal and advocate, offering a practical, research-informed guide drawn from real-world leadership. In an era where education leaders face intensifying psychosocial demands, his work stands as a hopeful, user-friendly resource, not just for those under strain, but for those already thriving, reminding us all that self-preservation is a noble discipline in service to others. With universal value that extends beyond schools into all enterprises, Brad’s reflections are both timely and timeless."
Dr Toby Ford, Founder, Ford Health
"From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset by Brad Gaynor is an essential guide for leaders seeking to overcome burnout and restore effective leadership. Grounded in neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and practical strategies, Gaynor's framework - Recognition, Reflection, Realignment, and Reinvention - provides a clear path to recovery. This book is honest, accessible, and a must-read for those dedicated to leading with renewed purpose and balance."
Dr Michael Boots, Educational Leader
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is an inspiring and practical guide for today’s educational leaders who want to transform challenge into opportunity. With clarity, compassion, and unflinching honesty, it offers a roadmap from exhaustion to genuine renewal. This is more than a book - it’s a call to action to prioritise our wellbeing so we can lead with purpose, hope, and resilience. Engaging, insightful, and deeply encouraging, it empowers leaders to reimagine their role, nurture themselves, and create a thriving, future-focused culture in their schools."
Michael Gray, President, Victorian Association of Catholic Primary Principals (VACPSP)
"Brad has woven personal insight with evidence-based tools and strategies, making it accessible, actionable, and full of heart. His framework provides a roadmap for leaders who want to sustain their performance and their wellbeing. As someone passionate about positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and creating thriving workplaces, I believe in the science behind this book. It is a valuable reminder that leadership is about leading with balance, empathy, and resilience. Brad offers leaders hope, clarity, and a path to thrive."
Sue Langley, CEO & Founder, Langley Group
"This book cuts through the noise with a brutally honest account of leadership burnout, recovery, and proactive prevention. Brad Gaynor courageously shares his lived experiences, while weaving in research on emotional intelligence and organisational change that every leader needs to hear. This book doesn’t just name the problem, it sets a clear course for leaders to reset and lead with clarity, courage, and care."
Dr Nathaniel Swain, Instructional Coach
