How Leaders Can Reclaim Their Energy a: An Energy Audit
This article was written in early January when it was cold and everyone was returning from the holiday break.
It's definitely taken me a little longer to get back up to speed after the Christmas break. As a Leadership Coach with a passion for transitions, I’ve seen even the most seasoned leaders struggle when the festive lights come down, and the darker days of January roll in. Resetting goals, planning the year ahead, and re-energising teams, all while battling the January blues can feel like a daunting task.
While some of us might feel recharged from a good break, that’s not always the case. It's easy to slip back into a slump when the sparkle of the season fades.
But here's the thing: energy isn’t just a luxury; it’s a leadership essential. Research from Deloitte highlights that leaders who manage their energy effectively have teams with up to 40% higher engagement scores, and their projects are 50% more likely to be delivered on time. The good news? Managing your energy isn’t just possible – it’s transformative.
Reading the Time Magazine article "Leaders Need to Take a Holistic Approach" by Klaus Kleinfeld, it inspired me to think about how we see our energy as Business leaders. This quote below hit home.
"I always thought of leaders as high-performance athletes. Then I looked at my favorite sport, tennis, and noticed an opposing phenomenon. Athletes have been staying on top longer, improving with age, and extending their careers. Just look at Roger Federer or Serena Williams. What have they done differently? They have focused on optimizing their energy level. Being physically fit isn’t enough. They were looking at the body, mind and soul. It’s not just about the hours on the court, but the person as a whole. Today’s leaders can learn a lot from this."
The article goes on to explain how Business Leaders can benefit form this approach. These energy dimensions all apply to business leadership - yes it is ok for leaders to mediate and take time out - whatever is needed to keep them focused and leading.
Let me share my insights on keeping momentum through winter (and the rest of the year) by focusing on the five dimensions of energy that fuel great leadership:
1. Physical energy: This is fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders who manage their energy levels can enhance their performance and positively influence their teams. Consider the following strategies to optimise your physical energy:
Align tasks with energy peaks: Schedule demanding activities during periods of peak alertness, typically mid-morning for many of us.
Incorporate regular breaks: Implementing short breaks between high-intensity work periods can boost productivity.
Maintain balanced nutrition: Consuming regular, nutrient-rich meals helps sustain energy levels, supporting cognitive function.
Engage in physical activity: Integrate movement into your workday; even brief walks can enhance cognitive performance. Those that have worked with me before will know I am a big fan of the "Walkie Talkie" for any 121 meetings virtually or F2F they are a great way to build walking and the outside into your day.
2. Mental Energy: How We Think, Microsoft's Work Trend Index 2022 revealed that leaders spend about 60% of their time in meetings and managing immediate tasks rather than strategic thinking. During transitions the pressure to be reactive can be even higher. Protecting your mental energy isn't selfish – it's essential. Some potential helps here:
Ring-fence 2-hour blocks for deep work
Create 'meeting-free' zones in your week
Use the two-minute rule: if it takes less time than that, do it now
Set clear decision frameworks (your team will thank you)
3. Emotional Energy: How We Feel
Research from the Harvard Business Review's Leadership study shows that a leader's emotional state creates a ripple effect through their organisation, impacting everything from decision-making to team collaboration. Here's what works for some of my clients:
Check in with yourself daily (a simple mood tracker can be of use)
Find a mentor or coach (we all need someone in our corner)
Celebrate wins, however small
Schedule proper downtime (and stick to it!)
4. Social Energy: How We Connect
In our hybrid working world, this one's more crucial than ever. Your social energy fuels collaboration and innovation:
Create intentional connection moments (virtual cuppa, anyone?)
Balance team and one-to-one time alongside the deep work time
Build psychological safety (it's not just management speak)
Foster genuine relationships beyond work tasks
5. Spiritual Energy: What We Believe and Nurture
This is about your deeper purpose and values:
Align your actions with your values daily or as often as possible
Make time for reflection at the end of each week
Connect your work to your personal mission
Nurture practices that ground you (meditation, journaling, whatever works for you)
How can we make this sustainable?
When we are relying on willpower alone it can be exhausting and often depletes our mental resources quickly. Instead, creating systems or regular routines and habits that support energy management can help and be more effective. Think of it like setting up direct debits instead of manually paying bills each month. Here's a practical approach for consideration:
1. Rate your energy across all five dimensions (be brutally honest!) and set a target
2. Spot what's draining you (those energy vampires) and can they be removed or re-framed?
3. Use the guide above to make some specific changes – set times and places for them – this makes them more likely to happen. Can you attach them to current habits – morning coffee or teeth brushing?
4. Check in weekly – diarise it and make it a priority.
I have some clients who religiously check in on their Energy and values every Monday and Friday - a focus for the week and a review at the end.
As the January days slowly lengthen, remember this: energy isn't a luxury, nor is it a given, it's a leadership essential that we all must invest in and maintain to benefit from.