30 Jul 25
A leader’s most critical resource isn’t time, knowledge, or skill. It’s energy! When your energy is high, you think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and make better decisions. Yet most leaders manage their schedules without considering how their energy fluctuates throughout the day. This newsletter explores why energy management is essential to leadership effectiveness, how energy drives performance and behaviour, and what practical steps you can take to optimise your day around your energy levels.
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#72 - Energy...your most important resource!
What?
Energy is the foundation that drives all other aspects of performance. It influences:
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Cognitive function: Focus, creativity and problem-solving,
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Emotional regulation: Patience, empathy and resilience,
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Decision-making: Speed, accuracy and confidence.
Without energy, even the most talented leader struggles to execute. Think of energy as the power supply to your leadership engine. Without it, you stall.
Why?
Energy levels are not constant. Most people experience a natural circadian rhythm, with energy peaking in the morning to early midday, then dipping towards lunchtime. They pick up again after 'refuelling' at lunch before tailing off for the rest of the afternoon. This can be seen in Figure 1 below:
Figure 1: Typical Energy Cycle
Ignoring this rhythm leads to misaligned tasks and underperformance.
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Complex, strategic thinking done during low-energy periods often results in fatigue, errors, or procrastination.
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Mundane tasks done during peak energy times wastes your highest-value cognitive capacity.
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Low energy reduces emotional bandwidth, which is why poor decisions and conflict often arise later in the day.
Leaders who ignore this pay the price in terms of performance, productivity, and team morale.
How?
So how can you exploit your profile and perform at your best?
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Understand Your Energy Profile
Track your energy levels for a week. Note when you feel focused, creative, sluggish or reactive. This will reveal your natural high-performance windows. -
Schedule work to match energy
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Morning (High Energy): Strategic planning, creative work, decision-making,
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Afternoon (Low Energy): Admin, emails, routine check-ins,
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Late Afternoon/Evening (Varies): Lighter conversations, reflection and planning for the next day.
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Build micro-renewal rituals
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Short breaks every 90 minutes,
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Movement (walks, stretching, hydration),
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Intentional transitions between meetings. These reset your energy and maintain productivity.
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Protect peak hours ruthlessly
Treat your high-energy hours like VIP time. Limit distractions, block your calendar and use them for the most important work. -
Model energy awareness for your team
When leaders prioritise energy management, it sets the tone for healthier, more sustainable performance culture across the organisation.
In Summary
Energy management is not a 'nice-to-have', it’s the invisible force behind every decision, interaction and performance metric.
As a leader, learning to align your work with your natural energy cycle gives you a performance edge and sets a powerful example for others.
Master your energy, and you master your leadership!
Have a great week!
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