The Leadership Energy Crisis: From Powerless to Powerhouse in 4 Easy Steps

How to Recharge Your Battery

May 10, 2024

One minute, I’m a whirlwind of inspiration; the next, I’m tempted to hide under my desk for a much-needed break.

Sound familiar? Leadership can feel like scaling Everest during a windstorm. So, how do I keep my batteries charged?

The answer lies in understanding how leadership taps into our four core energy sources: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Yes, even the spiritual kind — but more on that soon.

Energy Tank #1: Running on Fumes (Literally)

We’ve all been there. With the help of dubious coffee and sheer will, you are working late. Your body feels like it’s built of lead weights, and those inspirational speeches you once whipped out like a boss are now about as inspiring as week-old oatmeal.

Here’s the science bit: constant overwork wrecks your body. Sleep deprivation, bad food choices, and running on adrenaline fumes all mess with your decision-making and creativity. Suddenly, even the simplest tasks feel like scaling Mount Everest in flip flops.

The Team Fallout? A sluggish, irritable leader is a recipe for a demoralized team. Think of energy as contagious — yours is flatlining, and guess what? So will their enthusiasm.

Energy Tank #2: The Emotional Rollercoaster from Heck

Leading can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. You celebrate wins, stomach-churn over tough decisions, and deal with the full spectrum of human personalities — all before lunch. All that emotional labor? It takes a toll.

Unchecked, it can lead to burnout, cynicism, and a general feeling like humanity forgot how to use deodorant. Not exactly the recipe for a thriving team, right? Our negativity leaks out, even if we try to bottle it up.

Energy Tank #3: The Mental Marathon

Leaders are always “on.” We problem-solve, strategize, and analyze. That constant mental chatter is exhausting. We may look like we’re chilling, scrolling through our phones, but trust me, our minds are tirelessly spinning, much like hamsters on an ever-turning wheel.

Decision fatigue is real. The more choices you make, the worse they tend to get. That’s why those late-night emails might sound more like drunken ramblings than strategic brilliance. A team led by a mentally foggy leader? Expect scattered results and a distinct lack of direction.

Energy Tank #4: The Meaning of the MIA Crisis

Wait, spirituality in the workplace? Hold your horses, I’m not talking about chanting or incense (although, a good lavender diffuser never hurt anyone). What I’m talking about is a sense of purpose — feeling connected to something bigger than the daily grind. When this tank runs dry, leadership becomes a chore. We lose sight of the “why” and cynicism creeps in.

This hits the team hard. Work becomes just a job in the absence of a leader with a higher purpose. Motivation dwindles, and your best talent will be looking for a company with a slightly less soul-sucking vibe.

So, How Do We Plug Back In?

It’s tempting to wish we were like robots, simply recharging from a wall socket, right? Recharging leadership energy is a multi-pronged attack, but here are some of my favorites:

Physical Basics 101: Sleep, good food, and exercise aren’t sexy leadership tools, but they’re the foundation of your energy pyramid. If that foundation is shaky, everything else crumbles.

Emotional Outlet Extravaganza: Find healthy ways to deal with stress — therapy, journaling, or even taking out your frustrations on a punching bag (highly recommended). Bottling emotions doesn’t make them disappear, it just turns you into a ticking time bomb.

Mental Boundaries: Your New Superpower: Learn to say no. Delegate like a boss. And for the love of productivity, turn off notifications outside of work hours. Your brain needs downtime to reboot.

Rediscover Your “Why”: Regularly reconnect with the reasons you stepped into leadership. What’s your ultimate impact goal? Keep that front and center to rekindle your fire.

Bonus Round: Leadership Hacks for Energy Champions

The Power of Play: Remember fun? It’s not just for kids! Injecting a little playfulness into the workday does wonders for morale and creativity. Quick team challenges, goofy icebreakers, or even celebrating small wins with ridiculous GIFs — they lighten the mood and remind everyone there are humans behind those job titles.

Authenticity Rules: Trying to be the perfect, always-positive leader is a recipe for a spectacular energy crash. Your team doesn’t need a robot, they need a real person. Be transparent about challenges, admit mistakes, and show your human side. Vulnerability and authenticity build trust and let your team know it’s okay to not be okay.

Contagious Gratitude: Notice the good things your team does and express genuine appreciation. Gratitude is like an energy shot — both the giver and receiver get a boost. A simple “thank you” goes a long way in recharging everyone’s batteries.

Beware the Energy Vampires: You know them: the chronic complainers, the masters of negativity, the ones who suck the joy out of any room. While empathy is important, set limits on how much of their drama you absorb. Protecting your own energy reserves is crucial for leadership longevity.

Master the Micro-Recharge: Can’t escape for a weeklong yoga retreat? No worries! Squeeze in micro-recharges throughout the day. Think short meditation breaks, a walk around the block, or even a five-minute dance party to your favorite cheesy pop song. These tiny resets can have a surprising impact on your overall energy levels.

Leadership as a Team Effort: The best leaders don’t shoulder the energy burden alone. Create a culture where it’s okay to not be okay. Encourage open dialogue about burnout, and collectively brainstorm solutions to lighten the load. Shared responsibility fosters a sense of camaraderie and lessens the pressure for you to be the sole source of energy.

The Bottom Line

Let’s face it, leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. By recognizing the forces that deplete our energy and proactively cultivating recharge strategies, we show up as our best, most energized selves. And that’s the ultimate win for us, our teams, and the work we do.

Creativity fuels your energy. Uncover the surprising strengths that shape your ideas — take the free VIA inventory: https://TheStrengthsMultiplier.pro.viasurvey.org/