Beware of False Profits: Why Brilliant Women Are Burning Out in Silence
“Behind record-breaking profit announcements and so-called efficient restructures, there’s often a hidden cost being quietly absorbed by some of the most capable professionals in the workforce: senior women.”
Christine McGrory is an award-winning business mentor and founder of The Key
There’s a pattern emerging within the workforce of businesses across the country, one that business leaders can’t afford to ignore.
Behind record-breaking profit announcements and so-called efficient restructures, there’s often a hidden cost being quietly absorbed by some of the most capable professionals in the workforce: senior women.
As an executive coach, I’ve worked with hundreds of high-performing women over the past two decades. Lately, more and more are showing up to coaching sessions not just tired, but emotionally spent. Not the “I could use a holiday” kind of tired, but the kind that leaves them paralysed by basic decisions, questioning their own abilities, and secretly wondering if they are no longer cut out for leadership.
They rarely say it outright. Instead in my experience, they will say they can’t focus, they are struggling with managing their time, afraid they will make a mistake or are neglecting their own self-care.
The symptoms are clear, but what’s alarming is how many of these women blame themselves, internalising what is, in fact, a systemic issue. Because this isn’t about a lack of resilience, commitment or competence, far from it. It’s about the invisible price they are paying for propping up overstretched organisations with the pressure to prove themselves, exacerbated by lack of boundaries.
In many of the companies these women work for, teams have been slimmed down in the name of efficiency. Restructures and redundancies are sold as strategic realignments, yet the workload remains unchanged. The work has been redistributed and lands on fewer shoulders.
And who picks up the slack? The high performers, the perfectionists, the women who pride themselves on delivering results no matter what. Often those who don’t want to appear weak, refuse to let the quality of their work slip, and bend over backwards to support and protect their teams.
These women don’t complain or call in sick, they show up first, stay late, leave last, and plug gaps. They sacrifice time with children, partners or parents and give up energy for community, friendships and health.
The sad truth is that they are fuelling an illusion where record business profits reported have often come at the expense of wellbeing. These are what I call false profits, financial gains that mask the emotional and psychological burnout happening beneath the surface. Much like false prophets, they present an illusion that everything is thriving and the business is strong but it is a story built on quiet sacrifice, and one that is not sustainable. Not for the women involved, not for the companies and not for a society that would thrive with more female leadership at the top.
We know that diverse leadership teams drive better business outcomes and that experienced, emotionally intelligent leaders are essential in navigating complex challenges. However the current level of strain on women, and men, in some organisations is draining them to the point they burn out, their careers are cut short, they disengage entirely, and finally leave. Put simply, in chasing short-term profit, we risk losing long-term potential.
If companies are serious about retaining top talent, they must start listening. They need to move beyond lip service and create environments that reward sustainable performance, not silent overwork. That means rethinking what success looks like - not just in revenue, but in the health and engagement of the people delivering it. The irony is, studies have shown a happier and more fulfilled workforce can result in stronger business performance.
The current business landscape demands agility, innovation, and compassion. We can’t afford to keep losing our brightest leaders to silence. So for the companies that understand this, and act on it, they will not only protect their people, they’ll future-proof their leadership.
But until the system changes, women should stop blaming themselves, set boundaries and speak up confidently about unsustainable and unrealistic workloads. They must be supported in this and prioritise their own resilience not just for their sake, but for the teams and businesses that rely on them.
Christine McGrory is an award winning business mentor and founder of The Key
