Why Overfunctioning Is Exhausting Capable Leaders

Overfunctioning is one of the most socially rewarded habits in leadership.

It looks like commitment.

It looks like reliability. It even gets praised as leadership. But often, it is compensation.

In this episode, Liz Murray explores why capable leaders overfunction, how it quietly creates exhaustion, and why stepping in “just this once” can become a pattern that keeps you carrying responsibility that was never yours to begin with.

Overfunctioning keeps things moving. It keeps people comfortable. But it also keeps you tired.

In this reflection, Liz unpacks:

• What overfunctioning really looks like in practice

• Why it is usually about avoiding discomfort rather than control

• How difficult conversations and uncertainty drive compensation

• Why clean leadership removes unnecessary effort instead of adding more Leadership becomes heavy when we absorb what actually needs to be addressed. Clean leadership does not require more effort. It requires clarity and courage.

This episode is part of the February Clean Leadership series.

✅ Timestamps ''

00:00 – Overfunctioning is not leadership

00:10 – Why it gets socially rewarded

00:22 – The “just this once” pattern

00:36 – Carrying responsibility that is not yours

00:50 – Why it keeps you tired

01:02 – Avoiding discomfort and uncertainty

01:15 – Leadership becomes heavy when we compensate

01:25 – Clean leadership removes unnecessary effort

01:34 – Leadership gets lighter when you stop compensating

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🔹 WORK WITH LIZ MURRAY

Liz Murray helps leaders protect their energy, sharpen their influence, and lead with emotional stamina through her online course Be Exceptional, one-to-one coaching, and high-impact workshops.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.edgeofpossibilities.com.au
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