The invisble load that directors carry (and why its not just you)

There’s a part of early childhood leadership that rarely gets named. It’s not the paperwork. It’s not the compliance. And it’s not even the long days. It’s the invisible load. The mental tracking. The emotional holding. The constant decision-making. The responsibility that follows you home, into the shower, and into the quiet moments no one else sees. In this episode, I’m naming something I’ve seen again and again across early childhood services and something I carried myself for years before I realised it wasn’t a personal failure and learnt the techniques and systems to manage it. It was the role. This episode isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you understand why the load feels so heavy and why so many capable, committed directors quietly feel exhausted even when “nothing is technically wrong.” In this episode, we explore: What the invisible load actually is (and why it’s different to being busy) Why directors often feel mentally full before the day even begins The responsibility no one trains you for when you step into leadership Why this weight is carried silently and rarely spoken about How understanding the load is the first step to leading with clarity instead of constant overwhelm This conversation is here to say one simple thing: You’re not weak. You’re not failing. And you’re not alone. If you’ve ever wondered why leadership feels heavier than you expected this episode is for you. In the coming episodes, we’ll start unpacking what actually helps lighten this load not through motivation or hustle, but through training, systems, and support that directors were never given in the first place. Leeza Browne - Platinum Education Group - www.platinumed.com.au