Leading an association can be an incredibly rewarding career, but it often comes with significant costs to the mental and physical health of chief staff executives (CSEs). After several discussions surrounding this topic, four executive directors created a plan to collect real data outside of individual support circles.
A recent survey of nearly 150 chief executives reveals that many are struggling with physical and mental health issues including high levels of stress and burnout. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved governance, support systems and greater awareness of personal well-being among nonprofit leaders. We outline some of the results below, with plans to offer additional results and further discussion through industry podcasts, association conferences and ASAE leadership councils.
In the survey, 85 percent of the chief executives reported their personal health and well-being had been negatively impacted by their role, and 60 percent of respondents said they struggled with sleep or used sleep medication. Additionally, 89 of 147 respondents admitted that at some point, their professional performance had suffered due to de-prioritizing their mental or physical health.
Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.