The Energy Advantage: Why Elite Leaders Manage Their Energy, Not Just Their Time

If time management was the key to success, every leader with a well-organized calendar would be unstoppable, but we know that's not the case. Countless leaders silently struggle with burnout, decision fatigue, and a lack of creative thinking—despite mastering their calendars. The truth? Controlling your time isn’t the ultimate leadership advantage— mastering your energy is.

The Problem: Most leaders operate under the illusion that squeezing more into their day equates to higher productivity. Research reveals that performance isn’t about managing hours—it’s about managing energy. Studies from Harvard Business Review indicate that leaders who strategically manage their energy levels outperform those who solely focus on being efficient with their time.

Make The Shift: Elite leaders don’t just ask, “How can I fit more into my day?” They ask, “How can I optimize my energy to perform at my best?”

The Energy Advantage Framework: Here’s how top-performing leaders protect their energy for maximum leadership impact:

Treat Your Body Like a High-Performance Machine

1. Prioritize sleep (leaders who sleep less than 6 hours have 40% lower productivity). Try listening to something soothing at night to help your mind relax.
2. Fuel your body with high-energy foods instead of sugar and caffeine crashes. This weekend, plan a trip to The Farmer's Market and test out new recipes with organic foods.
3. Exercise to sharpen mental clarity and reduce stress. What music or podcast can you incorporate into your playlist to make your workout even more productive?

Emotional Energy: Guard Against Leadership Fatigue

1. Set boundaries: Every ‘yes’ withdraws energy from something else. Begin to think about who and what is deserving of your focus before committing.
2. Avoid decision fatigue by automating routine choices. Ex. Can you automate your wardrobe, your breakfast selection, or even your daily schedule?
3. Manage stress proactively—meditation, journaling, or downtime isn’t a luxury, it’s fuel. You may find these simple practices provide the rest and the answers for which you're searching.

Mental Energy: Focus on Deep Work, Not Just Busy Work

1. Block distraction-free time for high-level thinking
2. Schedule cognitive recovery—your best ideas don’t come from back-to-back meetings
3. Delegate or eliminate tasks that drain unnecessary mental bandwidth

Spiritual Energy: Align Work with Meaningful Impact

1. Clarify your leadership purpose—when your work aligns with your values, energy flows effortlessly. Why are you leading? Is it aligned with you you are and what you desire or is it simply a role that you're playing that is depleting you? Get clear and make adjustments if needed.
2. Invest time in relationships that energize you, not drain you. There are people who may need to lean in more because they invigorate us. There are also those who we may need to adjust our level of commitment because they require more than we can give at the current time. Be okay with making the adjustment needed for you to show up at your best for those who are relying on your leadership both personally and professionally.
3. Reconnect with your ‘why’ regularly to maintain motivation. Stay focused on the end game. You matter. Your leadership matters. From time to time, revisit your 'why" to remind and recommit yourself to the journey. Leadership is not without its challenges, but you are capable of rising above every challenge.

Quick Win Tip: Start tracking your energy, not just your time. At the end of each day, rate your energy levels (1-10) and identify what drained or fueled you. Make adjustments accordingly. Small shifts compound into massive leadership advantages.

Call to Action: Are you leading with energy intelligence or just running on empty? Drop a comment with your #1 energy-draining habit—and let’s troubleshoot it together. Or, if you’re ready to build sustainable high performance, subscribe to the Ultra Influential newsletter for elite leadership insights every week.

Reminder: You're invited to join me tomorrow for a very special LinkedIn Live event where we are gearing up for Employee Appreciation Day. We're discussing rewards and recognition do's and don'ts, employee culture, leadership, morale, and more. Share with your community and come with your questions.

Topic: What if Employee Appreciation is Backfiring? The Shift That Drives Loyalty

Time: 12PM CST

Date: February 26, 2025