How to Find Energy for Yourself and for Others

Right now, teams across industries are weary and looking to their leaders to bring the energy—to revitalize and move people forward. In my previous post, I wrote about the deep fatigue, exhaustion, and depletion many workers are experiencing and shared some insights into ways leaders and organizations can cultivate a supportive work culture for their teams.

While it is inevitable for there to be moments of challenge and times of uncertainty, we see that leaders who prioritize their well-being are better equipped to guide their teams through seasons of change. Having multiple strategies weaved together gives leaders a steady foundation from which they can show up to support others. It is through their own vitality that leaders can uplift their teams.

Here are 5 habits and wise practices that can help you show up and support your teams with the energy they are looking for:

1. Simplify – So often when we are in a place of overwhelm, everything feels urgent. The goal is to get clear on what is the most important for you and your team. This is a friendly reminder that if you have 18 priorities, you have no priorities. If we are hoping to execute excellence, two to three tasks per day is the number that most people can manage effectively. When you do know that you have these full days, ask yourself where you can simplify to minimize the invisible labour and cognitive load. For example, try time blocking with periods for focused work to avoid draining focus and energy from frequent task-switching, delegate when possible, or plan for takeout dinners on Fridays when you know your energy levels are going to be lower.
2. Know your non-negotiables – Boundaries are life-enhancing systems that allow us to protect our peace. Leaders need boundaries. Guardrails are useful but there are going to be times when those get pushed or challenged. Knowing what your non-negotiables are ensures that you are showing up where it counts and making what matters most matter most. For example, I will answer the phone call of my child’s school even if I am in a meeting or one day of the week is sacred and will not have work of any kind.
3. Practice the art of 100% – Practice checking in with yourself every morning and ask, “How much energy and focus do I have for today?” Let’s say you wake up feeling like a 60/100. Think about your day with 60% being your 100% that day. Where leaders burn themselves out at an accelerated rate is when they wake up feeling like a 60% and try to deliver a 100%. We end up stealing energy from tomorrow to get through today. When we do this day after day, we expel our energy in advance of the other days and risk running ourselves into depletion. The more often that you can pair your energy levels with what you deliver (I’m an 80% and I deliver an 80), the more likely it is that your energy levels will be higher the next day because you honoured the way you were feeling and worked within the realm of what you had within your control. It is also important to leave a little bit extra in the tank so you can be on your A-game if something unexpected comes up.
4. Know your critical conversations – Based on the work of Phil Jones, author of Exactly What to Say, one of the greatest things we can do to achieve excellence and show up where it counts is to know what our most critical conversations are in our personal and professional lives. For example, I know that the most critical conversation I have professionally is with my team on Mondays because it is the meeting that sets the trajectory for the week. What is the most critical conversation you have during the week with your colleagues or team?
5. View your day in quarters – Instead of thinking of our days as totals (“I had a good day” or “I had a bad day”), high performers divide their days into quarters. For example, we can break our days into morning, midday, afternoon, and evening blocks. Pausing to check in with ourselves after each quarter takes us off autopilot and into the present. If one quarter didn’t go well, we can do something to regroup and recalibrate to be able to show up for the next one. It is also important to have some form of recovery or rest behaviour within each of the quarters. Breaking our days into these small meaningful blocks of time supports our emotional well-being as well as our productivity.

We know that fostering a culture of well-being and vitality starts at the top. The energy you bring as a leader is contagious. If you can braid different wise practices into your days that support your well-being and help you generate that energy for yourself, the greater ability you have to inspire your team with the vitality and enthusiasm essential for success.