The hidden crisis no one talks about: Energy capacity in leadership

?There’s a conversation that’s missing in leadership right now.

The world is chaotic—wars, economic instability, climate disasters, uncertainty everywhere. Leaders are being told to “step up,” “push through,” and “keep going.” But what no one is talking about is the energy crisis happening inside the leaders themselves.

Not the kind measured in kilowatts, but the kind that fuels every decision, every conversation, every act of courage.

The depletion trap

Lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing from my clients:

“I’m exhausted, but I can’t slow down now.”

“I know I need to take care of myself, but I don’t even know where to start.”

“I used to feel clear and powerful, but now I’m just reacting.”

One leader I work with—an exceptional woman shaping the future of her industry—found herself in this exact cycle. She was running on empty, but she kept pushing. She told herself it was just a busy season, that she could rest later.

Then, right before a major presentation, she hit a wall. Anxiety, self-doubt, exhaustion—everything crashed down at once. She questioned her own abilities, even though she was one of the most capable people in the room.

And yet, something shifted. She recognised that this wasn’t a leadership failure—it was an energy capacity issue. The more she gave, the more was expected. The more she carried, the less others felt responsible. The more she over-functioned, the more she disconnected from her own wisdom.

Depletion disguises itself as ambition. It convinces women, in particular, that their value lies in how much they reflect and magnify others.

Virginia Woolf once wrote:

“You know that women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.”

For centuries, women have been conditioned to hold space for others, amplify others, and prioritise others’ growth over their own. It’s no surprise that so many brilliant women leaders find themselves depleted—because their energy has been trained to expand outward rather than inward.

But leadership is not about how much you can carry. It’s about how much capacity you can hold.

The shift: Leading from overflow

The leader I mentioned made a powerful shift. Instead of pushing through, she asked for help. Instead of trying to “muscle” her way through the stress, she took a step back. She reminded herself:

“I know my work. I know my vision. I do not need to prove myself.”

And when she walked into that presentation, she owned it.

This is what leadership from overflow looks like. Not constantly proving, pushing, and burning out—but expanding energy capacity so leadership can be rooted in clarity, presence, and power.

The most radical leadership skill: Energy capacity

Energy capacity is the ability to hold, replenish, and expand presence, no matter what is happening externally.

Knowing how to restore yourself before depletion.

Leading from overflow instead of exhaustion.

Holding space without leaking energy.

Making decisions from clarity, not survival mode.

In a world that is constantly pulling at you—work, family, obligations, the state of the planet—this is one of the most critical skills to develop. When energy capacity expands, reaction shifts into creation.

Mirror moment: Where are you leading from?

Take a moment to reflect.

Are you leading from a place of presence and energy capacity, or from depletion and over-functioning?

Where are you leaking power—giving too much, saying yes out of obligation, or allowing external chaos to dictate your state?

What would shift if energy was treated as the most valuable leadership asset?

This isn’t just about avoiding burnout. It’s about transforming the way leadership is experienced—so that instead of surviving the chaos, you become the calm in the storm.

Let’s talk

If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you.

What’s one area where energy capacity is stretched too thin?

Hit reply and let’s have a conversation. I read every response.

Because leadership isn’t about holding more—it’s about holding it differently.

Love,

Rita

Ps. Work with me in?private 1:1?where I′m your coach and thought-provoking partner. Step into greater leadership in your life and business every day in a relaxed, calm, and joyful way, with lots of support, inner and outer.

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