INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Why leaders are facing mental health challenges
The Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report( 2026) lays bare a growing leadership crisis. While leaders report the highest engagement( 26 %) of all employees surveyed, they are also more likely to be stressed, angry, sad, lonely and laugh the least of anybody across their organisation. Rob Cross, Author and Coach, discusses the growing mental health crisis at the top – and what to do about it.
The data is clear. Leaders today are living in a paradox – simultaneously thriving and struggling. Research from Gallup shows that leaders are among the most engaged employees in any organisation, with a strong connection to purpose and greater influence over outcomes.
Yet that same group consistently reports some of the highest levels of stress and burnout risk. It seems that the very factors that drive engagement, including ownership, responsibility and impact, also create sustained pressure. Leaders are not just delivering results; they are carrying the emotional and operational weight of the organisation.
Gallup’ s findings highlight that the role itself is the stressor. Leaders sit between competing demands, managing expectations from senior stakeholders while supporting and motivating www. intelligentcxo. com
35