You'd fire an employee who refused to acknowledge a problem. So why do we celebrate leaders who do the exact same thing?

A 2024 Business Solver State of the Workforce study surveyed more than 3,000 CEOs, HR professionals, and employees, and the results are equal parts fascinating and deeply uncomfortable. Fifty-two percent of CEOs believe their company culture is toxic. Fifty-five percent report mental health struggles of their own. And a staggering 81% believe that someone dealing with mental health issues is weak or a burden to the company.

Do the math. That means virtually every CEO surveyed thinks struggling leaders are weak, while also quietly struggling themselves. That's not irony. That's a crisis wearing a power suit.

The No More Leadership BS crew digs into the data, calls out the contradiction, and gets real about what it actually takes to lead without losing yourself in the process.

The Fishbowl Problem: You're the Water

When more than half of CEOs think their own culture is toxic, the obvious question is: who built it? Culture doesn't trickle up. It cascades down from the top, through every decision, every interaction, every tone set in a Monday morning meeting. If a leader recognizes the culture is broken and does nothing, the problem isn't the culture. It's the mirror.

The panel breaks down why self-awareness is the non-negotiable first step, and why blaming the front line for a culture problem is like blaming the floor for the leaky ceiling.

Stress Isn't the Enemy. Isolation Is.

Leadership is stressful. That's not a bug, it's a feature. The panel pushes back on the idea that stress itself is the problem, pointing out that humans are remarkably resilient and that most leaders have already survived harder things than they give themselves credit for.

The real damage happens when leaders try to carry it all alone. Complaints travel up the org chart, not down. At the top, there's nowhere for the pressure to go. The antidote isn't toughness. It's community: peer groups, coaches, mentors, and trusted teams that actually have your back.

The Superman Complex Is Costing You

Eighty-one percent of CEOs view mental health struggles as weakness. And since 55% of them admit to those same struggles, the math reveals something ugly: most leaders are silently judging themselves by a standard they'd never apply to anyone else.

The panel names this directly. Asking for help is not a white flag. It is, in fact, one of the most strategically sound things a leader can do. The leaders who figure this out earlier build stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more sustainable results. The ones who don't tend to become cautionary tales.

The Bottom Line

Leadership doesn't have to be a solo act performed in quiet suffering. The data says the problem is widespread. The panel says the solution is closer than most leaders think. Find your people. Talk to them. Let them help you get better at this.

You don't have to fix yourself in secret. You just have to start.

Tune In For:

The jaw-dropping stat that proves most CEOs are judging themselves by a standard they know is wrong
Why toxic culture is almost never a front-line problem, and where it actually starts
The surprising argument for why stress itself isn't the enemy of great leadership
What a strong leadership team actually does to reduce executive burnout
Practical, zero-excuses first steps for any leader ready to stop white-knuckling it alone

Leadership is hard. Carrying it alone is harder. This episode won't let you pretend otherwise.

Have questions, suggestions or just a great story to tell about some Leadership BS you have experienced? Let us know by emailing us

Today's Featured Coach -

Jeffrey Geier - Motivational Speaker, Trainer, and Coach - Helping You Win in Work & Life Owner/Founder of Phoenix Coaching LLC Reach Jeffrey at Jeff@PhoenixCoachingLLC.com or 509-553-9248

The rest of the gang:

Jeff Conroy - Organizational and Non-profit Expert, Motivational Speaker, Coach - Executive Leader | Difference Maker for nonprofits in strategic planning, operations, and fundraising and development. Owner/Founder of Conroy Leadership Consulting, LLC. Reach Jeff at jeff@ConroyleadershipConsulting.com or 208-215-6285
Geoff McLachlan - Motivational Speaker, Trainer and Coach, Bringing Fun Back Into the Workplace, Owner/Founder of Professionals At Play Reach Geoff directly at geoff@professionalsatplay.com or 509-869-4506
Myra Hall - Individual and Team Coaching, Midlife Mentoring- Helping you get excited about life again as you overcome the things that keep you from living and loving a life that counts. - Owner/Founder Waypoint Coaching Group Reach Myra at Myra@WaypointCoachingGrp.com or 765-623-9711