From Burnout to Balance: Prioritising Personal Energy Management

Everybody I speak to these days is "so busy it's crazy". We're all hustling and trying to make it work in a challenging environment and facing a huge amount of uncertainty. And unfortunately it seems this is the 'new normal'. Especially in today's fast-paced work environment, leaders and managers often find themselves caught in a perpetual cycle of meeting deadlines, managing teams, and navigating complex challenges. And if it's not work, its the management of work AND personal AND social AND family AND everything else.

While dedication and hard work are essential traits for effective management and leadership, the constant demands can take their toll on even the most resilient leaders, leading to burnout. Fortunately, the term 'burnout' has entered the lexicon of corporate now with almost everyone acknowledging the negative impact it has on people, on teams and on businesses. But acknowledging it exists is only the start of journey to bettering it.

As leaders, we often prioritise the needs of our teams and organisations above our own, neglecting the importance of managing our own personal energy. However, our effectiveness as leaders relies heavily on our ability to maintain our own energy levels at a level that keeps us operating at our best. As such, we need to ensure that we continue to explore the concept of and practice in managing our own personal energy to prevent burnout, emphasising the crucial role our own personal energy plays in sustaining high-performance leadership.

Imagine a scenario where you're tasked with pouring water into multiple cups simultaneously. Initially, the flow is steady, and you manage to fill each cup without any issues. However, as time passes, you begin to notice that the water level in your own cup is rapidly decreasing. Despite your best efforts to continue pouring, you realise that you've neglected to replenish your own supply and now you've got an empty cup. This analogy is one I often think about when facing down the guilt of doing something for myself and my own energy management over another task to assist someone else and perfectly encapsulates the plight of many leaders who prioritise the needs of their teams and organisations at the expense of their own well-being. This 'empty cup' analogy highlights a fundamental leadership truth: you cannot pour from an empty cup.

As managers, our ability to lead effectively hinges on our own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Neglecting self-care and overexerting ourselves inevitably leads to burnout, compromising our ability to support and empower our teams. Recognising and addressing this imbalance is the first step towards sustainable leadership.

Understanding Personal Energy

Personal energy is one of the key currencies of effective leadership. It encompasses not only physical vitality but also mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual well-being. Just as a battery powers a device, our personal energy fuels our ability to think critically, make decisions, and inspire others. It also plays an important role in our ability to remain emotionally consistent and even, something required in effective leadership. However, unlike a battery that can be recharged with a simple plug-in, managing personal energy requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses various aspects of our lives.

1. Physical Energy: Physical energy forms the foundation of our overall well-being. It encompasses aspects such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, and relaxation. As leaders, maintaining physical vitality is essential for sustaining long hours and high-pressure situations. Simple practices such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate quality sleep will significantly enhance our physical energy levels, enabling us to perform at our best.
2. Mental Energy: Mental energy refers to our cognitive capacity and focus. In today's hyper-connected world, distractions abound, making it challenging to maintain mental clarity and concentration. Effective time management, prioritisation of key elements and mindfulness practices can help preserve mental energy and prevent cognitive overload. Setting boundaries, delegating tasks, and taking regular breaks are crucial strategies for preserving mental energy and avoiding burnout.
3. Emotional Energy: Emotional energy relates to our ability to manage and regulate our emotions. As managers, we often encounter stressful situations, conflicts, and setbacks that can drain our emotional reserves. Developing emotional intelligence, practicing empathy, and fostering positive relationships are essential for preserving emotional energy. Cultivating a supportive network of colleagues, mentors, and friends can provide much-needed emotional support during challenging times.
4. Spiritual Energy: Spiritual energy encompasses our sense of purpose, values, and connection to something greater than ourselves. It provides meaning and fulfilment in our lives and serves as a source of inspiration and resilience. Engaging in activities that align with our values, practicing gratitude, and nurturing our spiritual well-being are essential for sustaining spiritual energy. Finding purpose and meaning in our work can reignite our passion and motivation, even in the face of adversity.

Strategies for Managing Personal Energy

Now that we've explored the different facets of personal energy, let's delve into practical strategies for managing it effectively:

1. Self-Awareness: The first step in managing personal energy is self-awareness. This means taking the time to assess your current energy levels and identify areas that require attention. Pay attention to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual cues, and be proactive in addressing any imbalances. A 2 mins daily check in with oneself is a great first step to creating this self-awareness habit.
2. Prioritise Self-Care: Make self-care a non-negotiable priority in your daily routine. Schedule regular exercise or even just a daily walk, healthy meal choices, quality sleep, and relaxation activities to replenish your physical and mental energy reserves. Set boundaries around work hours where possible and learn to say no to excessive demands that threaten to eat into your 'self-care time'.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing or even just a simple walk to enhance mental clarity and emotional resilience. This is about disconnecting for a little and stepping back. Incorporate moments of stillness and reflection into your day to recharge and centre yourself amidst the chaos of daily life. You'd be surprised how much benefit and clarity you get from a 5 mins guided breathing exercise on Spotify or iTunes.
4. Delegate and Empower: Recognise that you don't have to do it all alone. Delegate tasks to capable team members and empower them to take ownership of their responsibilities. In order to to grow people, you need to stretch them into new tasks.Trusting your team fosters a sense of autonomy and accountability, reducing your workload and preserving your energy for strategic decision-making. While this may feel uncomfortable and stressful to start with, it's the only way!
5. Build a Community: Human beings at our very core are programmed to be part of a community, to create connections and work together. As such, we need to prioritise relationships and social connections to nourish your emotional energy. Foster open communication, empathy, and trust within your team to create a supportive work environment. Seek feedback and guidance from colleagues, mentors, and peers to gain perspective and support during challenging times.
6. Find Purpose and Meaning: Reflect with gratitude on your role as a leader and the impact you aspire to make in your role to your team and your business. Align your actions with your personal values and seek out opportunities that bring meaning and fulfilment to your work and to your team.

While there are numerous personal energy management areas and a variety of different ways in which to 'fill up your own cup', ultimately the responsibility lies with you as a leader to explore what works for you and then to prioritise those elements to make sure you're supporting yourself in order to support others.

What is very clear is that if you want to operate as a leader to the best of your ability, you cannot afford to neglect these elements for long before you will undoubtedly face negative consequences in your performance. Managing personal energy is not just a luxury but a necessity for effective leadership. By nurturing our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy, we can continue to inspire and empower our teams, driving success and fulfilment in our professional journey.

As we embark on our journey to manage ourselves better, lets remember that it's not about perfection but rather the consistent pursuit of continuous growth and improvement. Let's accept and acknowledge that we're not going to achieve flawless execution, even if we strive for it (which we should). Our aim as managers and leaders is merely to chart a course aligned with our personal, business and team vision and bring our people along with us while we relentlessly pursue consistent and sustained progress. Remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup so prioritise self-care and replenish your energy reserves to ensure you lead with passion, purpose, and resilience.

Command what can be controlled. Good luck out there!