I support leaders and professionals through coaching, speaking, and practical insights that build clarity, confidence, and sustainable success. Whether you’re strengthening your leadership, navigating life’s challenges, or seeking professional growth, my evidence based approach is designed to meet your unique needs.
Leadership burnout is at crisis levels. Across Australia, more than half of leaders report feeling exhausted, used up, or ready to walk away. I know this story personally – and I know it doesn’t have to end there.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset is both lived experience and practical roadmap. It introduces the RESET Framework – a four-phase path to Recognise, Reflect, Realign, and Reinvent leadership – designed to help leaders move from exhaustion to sustainable impact.
This isn’t another theory book. Every chapter combines research, neuroscience, and real tools you can use immediately – from boundary-setting scripts and reflection exercises to team resilience strategies and reinvention practices. The message is clear: burnout isn’t a personal failing, it’s a signal for change.
Due for release with Routledge in December 2025, this book is for leaders who want to reset how they lead – with purpose, clarity, and wellbeing at the centre.

"As a highly experienced and capable leader, Brad has captured both the essence of and the challenges associated with principalship. From Burnout to Breakthrough is a powerful, heartfelt guide that transforms personal struggle into a practical framework for sustainable leadership. Brad blends lived experience, neuroscience, and comprehensive strategies to help leaders move from exhaustion to professional growth. His RESET model provides a clear pathway for personal and professional growth and self-care. When all the evidence we have suggests principalship is more challenging than ever before, this book is both timely and highly relevant. It is honest, insightful, and deeply validating – a must-read for anyone ready to lead with resilience, compassion, and heart."
"This book cuts through the noise with a brutally honest account of leadership burnout, recovery, and proactive prevention. Brad Gaynor courageously shares his lived experiences, while weaving in research on emotional intelligence and organisational change that every leader needs to hear. This book doesn’t just name the problem, it sets a clear course for leaders to reset and lead with clarity, courage, and care."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is a thoughtful contribution by Brad as both a former principal and advocate, offering a practical, research-informed guide drawn from real-world leadership. In an era where education leaders face intensifying psychosocial demands, his work stands as a hopeful, user-friendly resource, not just for those under strain, but for those already thriving, reminding us all that self-preservation is a noble discipline in service to others. With universal value that extends beyond schools into all enterprises, Brad’s reflections are both timely and timeless."
"Brad’s book is a rare and courageous look at leadership burnout, its warning signs, its impact, and the path back to joy. With honesty, practical strategies, and thought-provoking questions, he reminds us burnout is not a personal failure but an organisational issue. This is essential reading for leaders who want to thrive, not just survive."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset by Brad Gaynor is an essential guide for leaders seeking to overcome burnout and restore effective leadership. Grounded in neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and practical strategies, Gaynor's framework – Recognition, Reflection, Realignment, and Reinvention – provides a clear path to recovery. This book is honest, accessible, and a must-read for those dedicated to leading with renewed purpose and balance."
"Brad has woven personal insight with evidence-based tools and strategies, making it accessible, actionable, and full of heart. His framework provides a roadmap for leaders who want to sustain their performance and their wellbeing. As someone passionate about positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and creating thriving workplaces, I believe in the science behind this book. It is a valuable reminder that leadership is about leading with balance, empathy, and resilience. Brad offers leaders hope, clarity, and a path to thrive."
"Burnout to Breakthrough has it all - evidence, relatability, and practical guidance. This is the book I wish I’d had when leading in education. It’s a real, raw, and comprehensive guide to understanding burnout in all its forms, helping us to recognise, prevent, and respond to it, both for ourselves and for those we lead. Brad’s personal story woven into his RESET model is a powerful framework for leaders and educators to build awareness of stress and burnout, refocus on what matters most, take charge of their wellbeing, and truly flourish.An excellent resource that equips leaders and educators with the tools to sustain our passion, purpose, and performance in this deeply rewarding profession."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is an inspiring and practical guide for today’s educational leaders who want to transform challenge into opportunity. With clarity, compassion, and unflinching honesty, it offers a roadmap from exhaustion to genuine renewal. This is more than a book – it’s a call to action to prioritise our wellbeing so we can lead with purpose, hope, and resilience. Engaging, insightful, and deeply encouraging, it empowers leaders to reimagine their role, nurture themselves, and create a thriving, future-focused culture in their schools."
"As a highly experienced and capable leader, Brad has captured both the essence of and the challenges associated with principalship. From Burnout to Breakthrough is a powerful, heartfelt guide that transforms personal struggle into a practical framework for sustainable leadership. Brad blends lived experience, neuroscience, and comprehensive strategies to help leaders move from exhaustion to professional growth. His RESET model provides a clear pathway for personal and professional growth and self-care. When all the evidence we have suggests principalship is more challenging than ever before, this book is both timely and highly relevant. It is honest, insightful, and deeply validating – a must-read for anyone ready to lead with resilience, compassion, and heart."
This book cuts through the noise with a brutally honest account of leadership burnout, recovery, and proactive prevention. Brad Gaynor courageously shares his lived experiences, while weaving in research on emotional intelligence and organisational change that every leader needs to hear. This book doesn’t just name the problem, it sets a clear course for leaders to reset and lead with clarity, courage, and care."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is a thoughtful contribution by Brad as both a former principal and advocate, offering a practical, research-informed guide drawn from real-world leadership. In an era where education leaders face intensifying psychosocial demands, his work stands as a hopeful, user-friendly resource, not just for those under strain, but for those already thriving, reminding us all that self-preservation is a noble discipline in service to others. With universal value that extends beyond schools into all enterprises, Brad’s reflections are both timely and timeless."
"Brad’s book is a rare and courageous look at leadership burnout, its warning signs, its impact, and the path back to joy. With honesty, practical strategies, and thought-provoking questions, he reminds us burnout is not a personal failure but an organisational issue. This is essential reading for leaders who want to thrive, not just survive."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset by Brad Gaynor is an essential guide for leaders seeking to overcome burnout and restore effective leadership. Grounded in neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and practical strategies, Gaynor's framework – Recognition, Reflection, Realignment, and Reinvention – provides a clear path to recovery. This book is honest, accessible, and a must-read for those dedicated to leading with renewed purpose and balance."
"Brad has woven personal insight with evidence-based tools and strategies, making it accessible, actionable, and full of heart. His framework provides a roadmap for leaders who want to sustain their performance and their wellbeing. As someone passionate about positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and creating thriving workplaces, I believe in the science behind this book. It is a valuable reminder that leadership is about leading with balance, empathy, and resilience. Brad offers leaders hope, clarity, and a path to thrive."
"Burnout to Breakthrough has it all - evidence, relatability, and practical guidance. This is the book I wish I’d had when leading in education. It’s a real, raw, and comprehensive guide to understanding burnout in all its forms, helping us to recognise, prevent, and respond to it, both for ourselves and for those we lead. Brad’s personal story woven into his RESET model is a powerful framework for leaders and educators to build awareness of stress and burnout, refocus on what matters most, take charge of their wellbeing, and truly flourish.An excellent resource that equips leaders and educators with the tools to sustain our passion, purpose, and performance in this deeply rewarding profession."
"From Burnout to Breakthrough is an inspiring and practical guide for today’s educational leaders who want to transform challenge into opportunity. With clarity, compassion, and unflinching honesty, it offers a roadmap from exhaustion to genuine renewal. This is more than a book – it’s a call to action to prioritise our wellbeing so we can lead with purpose, hope, and resilience. Engaging, insightful, and deeply encouraging, it empowers leaders to reimagine their role, nurture themselves, and create a thriving, future-focused culture in their schools."
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