Leadership comes with a heavy weight of responsibility, decisions, and constant demands on your time. As a result, many leaders believe the key to staying ahead and successful is time management - squeezing every last drop of productivity out of the hours in the day. And it does work; to a point.
But what if I told you that managing your time alone isn’t enough?
The real secret to lasting success and balance lies in managing your energy.
Why Time Management Isn’t Enough
Time is finite. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Time management techniques can help you organise tasks and improve efficiency, but they often miss one crucial element - your energy levels.
Imagine your to-do list is perfectly planned, your meetings all lined up, and your day structured to the minute. Now imagine you’re so drained by midday that all those plans fall apart. Sound familiar?
The truth is, time management alone doesn’t account for the natural ebbs and flows of your energy, focus, and mental capacity throughout the day. Energy, on the other hand, is something you can replenish, renew, and manage strategically. And when you start working in alignment with your energy, you’ll achieve more with less struggle and stress.
Energy Is Multi-Dimensional
Energy isn’t just about physical stamina. It’s a combination of:
Physical Energy: How well-rested and nourished you are.
Emotional Energy: Your mood, mindset, and how you handle stress.
Mental Energy: Your ability to concentrate and make decisions.
Spiritual Energy: A sense of purpose or fulfillment in your work.
As a leader, you need to be aware of all of these dimensions. When one is drained, it affects the others, and no amount of time management can compensate for depleted energy. Leaders often fall into the trap of trying to push through exhaustion, but that only leads to burnout.
The Key to Success: Aligning Your Work with Your Energy
Now that we’ve established the importance of energy, the question becomes: How do you manage it?
It starts with recognising that your energy fluctuates throughout the day, the week, and even the year. These fluctuations are completely normal, but most leaders ignore them and try to power through, leading to diminishing returns in productivity and well-being.
Practical Energy Management Tips for Leaders
Here’s how you can start managing your energy effectively:
1. Identify Your Peak Energy Times
Everyone has times of day when they feel most focused and energised. Some people are morning people, while others hit their stride in the afternoon or evening. Take note of when your energy is naturally highest and schedule your most important or demanding tasks during those times.
For example, if your energy peaks in the morning, use that time for strategic thinking, creative work, or problem-solving - tasks that require your full focus and attention.
2. Batch Low-Energy Tasks
On the flip side, schedule less demanding tasks - like responding to emails or completing administrative work - during your low-energy periods. This allows you to maintain productivity without draining your mental and emotional energy reserves.
3. Prioritise Energy-Replenishing Activities
To keep your energy levels up, you need to regularly recharge. That could mean taking short breaks throughout the day, scheduling time for exercise, or engaging in activities that bring you joy or relaxation.
Physical activity, even a 10-minute walk, can boost your energy and refocus your mind.
Mindfulness practices, like deep breathing or meditation, can help reset your emotional and mental energy.
Connecting with others, whether a quick chat with a colleague or loved one, can lift your mood and provide emotional support.
Remember, self-care isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity for long-term leadership success.
4. Delegate Energy-Draining Tasks
As a leader, you don’t need to do everything yourself. Recognise the tasks that drain your energy the most, and delegate them to others on your team. This frees up your mental and emotional bandwidth for higher-priority work that requires your focus and leadership.
Effective delegation is one of the most powerful tools in managing both your time and energy. It helps prevent burnout while empowering your team members to take ownership of tasks and grow in their roles.
5. Protect Your Energy with Boundaries
Energy management also involves saying "no" to unnecessary tasks or commitments. Without strong boundaries, your energy will be siphoned off by activities that don’t align with your priorities or values.
Ask yourself:
What tasks are draining my energy but not contributing to my goals?
Where can I set clearer boundaries around my time and energy?
Protecting your energy means ensuring you have the capacity for what truly matters in both your professional and personal life.
What Happens When You Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Time
When you start focusing on energy management, you’ll notice several key shifts:
Increased Productivity: You’ll accomplish more in less time because you’re working when your energy is at its peak.
Greater Focus and Clarity: Managing your energy prevents mental fog, allowing you to make decisions faster and with more confidence.
Improved Well-Being: You’ll feel less drained and more energised throughout the day, leading to better overall health and a greater sense of balance.
Sustainable Leadership: Instead of burning out, you’ll be able to sustain your leadership effectiveness over the long term.
I know this from personal experience.
When I was a full-time teacher and key stage leader, I was planning for and teaching a class of 30 children, directly managing up to 20 people, mentoring student teachers, navigating my chronic illness limits and even supporting teachers and leaders in other schools. At the time, I thought I was simply "very busy." But when I took a step back and analysed my time, I realised that the key to maintaining success wasn’t squeezing in more hours - it was about creating better balance.
By managing my energy more effectively, prioritising what really mattered, and setting clear boundaries, I found that I had the capacity to not only handle my responsibilities but also to take on something as significant as studying for my master’s degree. It required balance, discipline, support, and determination - but I did it.
The shift from focusing on time to focusing on energy made all the difference.
The Leadership Shift: From Burnout to Balance
The idea that leaders must always be on, always doing more, and always available is outdated. True leadership isn’t about doing everything - it’s about doing what matters most with the energy you have.
When you manage your energy, you become a more effective, resilient, and balanced leader. You’ll inspire your team not by working harder, but by working more sustainably.
If you’re ready to break free from the cycle of burnout and lead from a place of energy and balance, my Resilience Reset coaching package can help. In this 8-session coaching journey, I’ll guide you in identifying your energy drains, building resilience, and creating a leadership and life balance approach that aligns with your strengths and well-being.
Ready to start managing your energy, not just your time? Let’s chat about how my Resilience Reset program can help you transform your life. Book a free 20-minute discovery call today and take the first step toward lasting success.
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