One business leader is prioritizing his mental health over a surging career.
Joseph Kennedy, CEO of Pandora, an Internet radio site, announced Thursday that he’s stepping down, even as the company posted a 54 percent jump in revenue. It may seem odd for a successful executive to jump ship at the height of his company’s success, but in explaining his decision, Kennedy said he had something more important to attend to.
“As I approach the start of my tenth year, my head is telling me it is time to get to a recharging station sooner rather than later,” Kennedy said in an earnings call with analysts, according to USA Today.
It may come as no surprise that Kennedy needs a break. He helped Pandora navigate a series of obstacles since becoming a public company in 2011, including lagging advertisement revenue and issues with royalty costs, according to the Wall Street Journal. What's more surprising is that he actually decided to take that break.
Many CEOs struggle with stress, due largely to the long hours they spend in high pressure situations, according to the BBC. Even though that stress can hurt business, corporate chiefs often lack the right coping mechanism.
There are some ways that CEOs can deal with their job stress before it gets to be too much. Debra Nelson, the head of an executive coaching firm, told Forbes that one of the best ways CEOs can manage the pressure of the job is by scheduling some time for exercise, meditation or another activity.
Of course, bosses aren’t the only ones running themselves ragged at work. Ordinary workers are becoming increasingly burnt out, according to a recent survey.
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