Drew Povey, who led Harrop Fold School in Salford and appeared on the Channel 4 documentary Educating Greater Manchester, now works as a leadership coach and consultant through his Drew Povey Consultancy.
He believes adapting the “three Rs” could help reduce stress at work.
Mr Povey said: “In creating tactics to deal with burnout, leaders need to recognise, reflect and recalibrate.
“What I’ve learned about burnout over the years is that it’s a bit insidious, and it can creep in and creep in quietly.
“In order to achieve your goals, it’s important to be strategic, which is where coaching can help.
“Without it, workplace pressures and a relentless push to reach the top without a guide or support can actually stop you achieving what you want.”
Read more
He identified a number of early warning signs, including persistent tiredness, disrupted sleep, loss of job satisfaction, and reliance on alcohol or drugs to cope.
Mr Povey said: “Common symptoms include not being happy at work, feeling tired all the time and disrupted sleep.
“People may also find themselves looking for escapes in alcohol, drugs or other short-term coping mechanisms, which means the problem can quickly escalate into something quite serious.
“And like poor physical health, prevention is the key.
“Awareness, for me, is the first antidote to being overwhelmed.”
He believes that leaders should avoid trying to manage everything on their own.
Mr Povey said: “Life is a team sport and we need to stop trying to captain it alone.
“We all need that sounding board, that someone who listens, someone who challenges, someone who supports.
“It is absolutely essential, because this will make the load lighter, but it will also make the path clearer.”
He also argued that coaching should not be considered a luxury reserved for those in senior positions.
Mr Povey said: “Anyone can use the principles of coaching no matter what stage of their career they are.
“If it’s something you want to get into, start with reading a book on coaching and applying those lessons yourself.”