Background Physician burn-out was associated negatively with physicians’ health, patient outcomes and healthcare system performance. Reducing physician burn-out may potentially benefit physicians and patients, improve healthcare performance and reduce societal healthcare costs.

Aim The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between transformational and servant leadership behaviours and physician burn-out.

Methods A cross-sectional, non-experimental quantitative correlation study was conducted using scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Global Transformational Leadership Scale and Servant Leadership Behaviour Scale–6-item Short Form. The data were obtained by an online survey of physicians working at a metropolitan hospital in Australia.

Results 82 physicians participated in the study. The result showed significant correlations between transformational and servant leadership and lower physician burn-out, particularly in supporting fellow physicians’ personal accomplishments, a burn-out construct (Pearson r=0.42 and 0.32, respectively). Among the constructs of transformational leadership, leaders who are clear about their values and demonstrate them in their actions correlate strongly with the constructs of burn-out. In servant leadership behaviours, helping subordinates generate meaning out of everyday work was the most influential factor in fellow physicians’ burn-out. The finding may be related to the effects of observing the positive values and actions of their supervisor and the physicians’ own understanding of the value of their work.

Conclusions A positive role model and the meaning of everyday work could be protective against physician burn-out. Positive role modelling and mentorship may be relevant in physician supervisor training. Encouraging physicians to discover meaning from their everyday work may help to promote physician well-being.