Why Recovery Deserves a Seat at the Leadership Table
Author: Ahna de Vena, BFA
Photo credit: MAsgar / Adobe Stock
Sleep and recovery are rarely mentioned in boardrooms, yet failure to protect it quietly undermines performance at every level of modern organizations. While we continue to invest in training, strategy, and performance metrics, the biological foundation of high-functioning leadership—restorative sleep and recovery, the very thing that enables those investments to take root and flourish—is being overlooked. If we want sustainable success, it’s time to give recovery a seat at the leadership table.
Recovery is Not a Wellness Perk. It’s a Performance Prerequisite
In the pursuit of results, modern workplaces are unintentionally sabotaging their own leadership potential. Research from McKinsey reveals that the four behaviors most associated with high-quality leadership performance are:
- A strong orientation to results
- Solving problems effectively
- Seeking out different perspectives
- Supporting others
All four of these rely heavily on the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain most compromised by sleep deprivation. [1] Yet 83% of leaders report that their organizations do not invest enough in educating them about the importance of sleep. [1] This is more than a knowledge gap—it’s a structural blind spot costing organizations clarity, creativity, and culture-wide renewal.
Sleep Deprivation is Widespread—And Costly
According to The Sleep Charity’s 2024 Sleep Manifesto, nine in ten people report sleep problems, and one in three are experiencing “sleep poverty”—driven by stress, environmental pressures, and the inability to switch off at the end of the day. [2]
McKinsey’s analysis [1] shows that sleep-deprived workplaces suffer measurable consequences, including:
- Increased errors
- Poor decision-making
- Low engagement
- Reduced innovation
These are not soft losses. They directly compromise effectiveness, profitability, and impact.
Recovery Underpins Sustainable Leadership
Without adequate recovery, even the most capable leaders cannot sustain cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, or relational presence. Their leadership becomes reactive, fragmented, and ultimately fragile. Conversely, when recovery is protected, leaders gain access to long-term clarity, resilience, and relational strength—the very traits needed for wise, future-fit leadership. In fact, companies that prioritize a culture of restorative sleep outperform their competitors in engagement, innovation, and productivity. [1] Leadership today is not about hustle at all costs—it’s about capacity, sustainability, and stability over the long game.
Where to Begin: Making Recovery Strategic
Organizations can start building a recovery-forward culture by:
- Educating leaders on the neuroscience of sleep and cognitive performance
- Making sleep and recovery core pillars of leadership development programs
- Embedding recovery into wellness strategies at a systemic level
- Creating policies that protect true rest (e.g. “Right to Disconnect,” protected evenings, screen curfews)
- Normalizing downtime and dismantling outdated “sleep-is-for-the-weak” mentalities
The era of wearing four hours of sleep as a badge of honor is over. Leaders modeling chronic fatigue are losing credibility. Recovery is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It is a strategic advantage.
Conclusion
Recovery is not a side note to performance—it is foundational for sustainable performance. By honoring the rhythms of rest, we don’t just restore individuals—we revitalize collective capacity. The future of leadership belongs to those who are not just high performing, but well-rested enough to lead wisely. It’s time to bring recovery out of the wellness corner and into the heart of workplace strategy.
About the Author
Ahna de Vena, founder of REVIVE Global, is a workplace wellness innovator specializing in sleep health and sustainable leadership performance. With over 20 years of expertise, she pioneered Holistic Sleep Therapy and created the globally recognized Sleep Kit for Kids. Through her Sleep & Dream Foundation, Ahna supports trauma recovery by restoring sleep health. Her resources, including a Qantas-featured audio program, have impacted thousands worldwide.
Connect with Ahna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahnadevena/
Website: reviveglobal.co
References
[1] McKinsey & Company. (2023). The Organizational Cost of Insufficient Sleep. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organizational-cost-of-insufficient-sleep
[2] The Sleep Charity. (2024). Sleep Manifesto 2024.
https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/get-involved/sleep-manifesto-2024/
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