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Reflections on Leadership, Energy, and Intention I was recently reminded of a conversation with Jonny Tooze during lockdown. We discussed how managing time often feels futile, and I said that instead, I focus on managing energy. This is how I work. It’s a marathon, not a sprint— yada yada. But even athletes have rest days; not every day is race day. I stand by this as someone who struggles with rest and finds it hard to pause. I am a recovering, relentless do-er - one day at a time. In manifesto, we have a manifesto. One of its pillars is to “pause, breathe, and step away.” Including this pillar was bold. Other pillars I know we can consistently deliver on. But this one? It’s a daily challenge for us all. Nevertheless, it is core to my values. While agency life demands pace, I want my teams to be free to manage their energy in ways that work best for them. 2024 was brutal — for clients and agencies alike. I am grateful to be heading into 2025 in good health, mine and manifesto's. But “golden times” may not return overnight for any of us. And when survival cannibalises thriving, it’s easy to succumb to stress and sacrifice creativity, connection, and collaboration. That’s the trap we need to avoid. A therapist once told me, “You can only ever be 50% responsible for a relationship—no more, no less. Responsibility lies on both sides.” This insight is pertinent. I can create the space for my teams to pause, breathe, and step away, but it’s not always easy for people to accept that space. Deadlines, demands, and notifications pervade. But a more challenging truth is this; pattern interruption is deeply uncomfortable. Stress feels familiar, and we stick to what’s familiar, even when it doesn’t serve us. We push ourselves, running on stress hormones. And at pace, pausing can feel as uncomfortable as an emergency stop. We are driven unconsciously by past narratives shaped by former workplaces, the shadow side of perfectionism and addiction to motion. It has never been more challenging to be a leader. The constant tension between the macro and micro: societal and political upheavals, the human need for connection, and the ever-changing nature of work. How do we balance the freedom that remote work offers with the transactional nature of digital exchanges? How do we create kind, safe, and supportive workplaces while honouring commercial realities? I don’t have all the answers. But I do have intention. I intend to continue to show up as a conscious leader every day. I promise to lead with self-awareness and authenticity and rooted in purpose and curiosity. I will hold space for both the sprint and the marathon, for ambition and rest, deadlines and the human beings working to meet them. I will choose the path of creativity, care, and alignment—even when the world pulls me in a different direction. Leadership is messy and imperfect. And it’s also an energetic practice. How do you manage 'energy and the do-list?' #consciousleadership
Entrepreneur & Business Advisor | On a mission to merge business growth with personal development.
Great managers don’t manage people’s time. They manage people’s energy. A great quote from my friend Rebecca Hull, who runs a brilliant agency called manifesto. Because here’s the thing: Energy drives results, creativity, and growth. Not micromanaged schedules. By helping their team prioritise what truly matters to them, great leaders create an environment where people thrive. Here are 5 ways you can manage energy, not just time: 1. Champion flexibility → Let people work when and where they’re at their best. 2. Focus on outcomes → It's the results that count: if it was quicker than expected, congratulate; if longer, compensate. 3. Support priorities → Encourage your team to define what’s important to them. 4. Respect recovery → Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. Normalise breaks, unplugging, and real downtime. 5. Recognise what matters → Celebrate wins, big or small. Nothing fuels energy like feeling seen and valued. Managing energy is about more than productivity. It’s about creating a space where people want to give their best because they feel their best. - - - - - Share and repost if you liked this ♻️ And follow me, Jonny Tooze, for more.