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We changed plans for the newsletter this week. This wasn’t originally the planned edition.

But, earlier this week, we received a note from a reader. We are lucky to hear the perspectives of many coaches, educators, and leaders. But, something about this one really hit home. We haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

We’ll paraphrase it, but the essence was this:

This reader had somehow happened upon a 2-year-old newsletter we wrote about Burnout. They had reached out to ask if we were still giving out our Coach Performance Plan — a daily and weekly plan designed to help coaches lead themselves well and be their best for their team.

And they told us a little of their story.

They’ve been an administrator for multiple years. They oversee hundreds of students across dozens of programs. Then these words jumped off the screen.

They shared that they work 6-7 days a week to keep up.
They sleep 4-5 hours at most.
They’ve even sought out medical help.

Then this.

While this message came from one person, it doesn’t belong to just one person.

There are many coaches and leaders quietly carrying something similar. Unfortunately, the education system has a habit of chewing up and spitting out incredible leaders.

So, we wanted to write an open letter to any coach, any leader, any educator who is wearing many hats caring for young people and who “has a desire to grow and improve in order to better serve the people they lead,” but is feeling stuck, worn out, and empty.

We hope it helps.

First — let’s acknowledge something clearly:

You are doing perhaps the most important job in the world. Pouring your time and energy into developing young people is, in our opinion, the most important thing you can be doing.

It’s not incentivized that way. It’s not developed that way. It’s not deemed that way. But we believe it to be true. It’s why BETTER exists.

But you’re not failing. Because you show up.

Want to keep making a difference in the life of a young person? Just. Show. Up.

You’re overloaded. And that’s not failure. A lot of leaders in your position assume that if they feel behind, it must mean they’re not doing enough. But it’s a lie.

So they respond the only way they know how:

Do more.
Work longer.
Sleep less.
Push harder.

But here’s the hard truth:

That strategy doesn’t solve the problem. It becomes the problem.

Because the most valuable gift you can give those you lead and those around you is the person that you are. Not anything that you create, build, or solve. It’s you.

And so, we need you to do the work it takes to be your best.

We don’t have all the answers, but here are some things that may help.

So, a couple of things we want you to know first.

Christina Maslach, a former Psychology professor at UC Berkeley, is perhaps the leading researcher on burnout. Her research shows that burnout isn’t simply caused by working too much.

It’s driven by a mismatch between the person and their environment, especially around workload, control, expectations, and support.

In other words:

You don’t burn out just because you’re working hard.
You burn out when the work feels purposeless, unclear, and out of your control.

Teachers don’t leave because they don’t care anymore. They leave because they fear that they are no longer making a difference.

That’s why simply “trying harder” rarely fixes it.

A complete overhaul won’t work and might not even be effective. The goal here isn’t to create a perfect plan. It’s just to identify things and make them incrementally…BETTER.

Right now, everything feels immediate.

But take a step back and ask:

That question isn’t meant to scare you. It’s meant to give you permission to adjust course.

We have a tool called 70:30. It’s designed to paint an ideal picture of how you spend your time.

When a leader is in their sweet spot, they’re spending 70% of their time on the things that they’re naturally good at, we call it their Unconscious Competence (you’re good at it without really trying), and when you walk away, your soul is more full.

And they’re spending 30% of their time on the things that take more energy, are a little harder for them, and are very draining.

If you’re running on empty, this ratio is off. You’re closer to 50-50 or below, trending away from 70-30.

The first thing we do is have you identify the tasks, skills, and things that fit into that 70% bucket. What parts of your role fall under that category?

What about the 30%?

Sometimes, just sitting down to identify what those tasks actually are can help you prioritize your time a little better.

What’s one thing (you only get to pick one) you can do today to balance those scales a little better?

Sleep. Exercise. Time with family. We think you deserve all three if it helps you be your best. And, your team deserves it too.

A more energized coach, teacher, or leader is always better for those you’re leading than one who’s checked a few more things off their list that day.

That’s a powerful place to start. It won’t fix everything. But it can help bring some stabilization to what you’re feeling.

You don’t need perfect balance.

You need one anchor.

This part matters. Many educators and coaches are operating in unhealthy leadership environments. No amount of personal discipline fully compensates for a broken environment.

At some point, leadership requires:

That’s leadership, too. We believe the steps above should help you identify your responsibilities versus those of your leadership.

You care deeply. That’s obvious.

But caring doesn’t mean absorbing every responsibility, every issue, and every expectation.

Sustainable leaders learn to care without feeling like they carry everything. If you believe the success of your program falls only on your shoulders, that is too heavy a weight to carry on your own.

We love that you care enough to try to get better. That matters.

But here’s something we’ve learned:

The goal is not to accomplish everything. And yet so many times, that’s how we operate. You can’t lead people well from a place of constant depletion.

The goal should be to build a way of leading that you can sustain and sustains you.

If this message resonated, know this:

You’re not alone in it. And you’re not stuck in it either.

But the way forward isn’t more. It’s your clarity, alignment, and leadership.

We know you don’t get thanked enough. So, take this letter from us at BETTER as our biggest thank-you.

You are doing a good work.

Basketball coaches - going to be at the Final Four? Come say hello!

Congrats to UGA Golf and Carter Loflin for both having dominant victories this past week at the Linger Longer Invitational.

I often joke to others that Carter is the shining example of BETTER Golf. He has totally bought in, and his development has skyrocketed. Really cool to see that work rewarded so prominently in a very competitive field.

We are proud of Carter, his coaches, and his team.

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