WHAT LEADERS INVEST IN WHEN THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR TEAMS
True leadership shows up in what leaders choose to invest in - not just more hard skills, but people’s energy.
Several weeks ago, we wrapped up a series of Energy Boost sessions with an amazing team I had the privilege to work with at Miix Analytics Inc.
And now, heading into the holidays and a new year, it felt like the right moment to share a few reflections from this experience about inspiring leadership, energy as the foundation of everything we do, and how it shapes productivity, motivation, and fulfillment.
1. True leadership starts with people’s energy.
When Hilary Borndahl and I first spoke earlier this year about running Energy Boost sessions for her team, I was genuinely excited and inspired by her leadership.
It’s easy to invest in hard skills: how to sell, how to write strong reports, how to build client relationships. Many companies do that well.
What you don’t see as often is leaders choosing to go deeper and invest in people’s energy.
And that work isn’t always comfortable. It’s the moment you ask people to slow down, turn inward, and become aware of subconscious, automatic patterns - and suddenly everyone’s adjusting in their chairs like, “Wait… what are we doing now??” 🫤 - because staying busy is way easier than sitting with yourself for a minute.
But the payoff is significant. When energy is high, work feels different. Things flow. Motivation comes more naturally. Pressure doesn’t turn into burnout. Communication and collaboration improve. You inspire others simply by being yourself - because you’re more present, more grounded, and more in control.
This is where energy training really matters. Not as another “wellness” add-on, but as a way to help people pause, build awareness, notice blind spots, and learn how to regulate their energy - at work, in life, and in how they show up for others.
That kind of leadership stays with people, because it affects more than performance - it affects how people live and relate beyond work. And that’s what I really appreciate about working with leaders like Hilary - her thoughtful, intentional approach and genuine care for empowering her team in a way that actually lasts.
2. High achievers benefit from this work more than anyone
The people I work with are often ambitious, driven, and high-performing. They care. They deliver. They go the extra mile. Miix Analytics Inc. is a great example - a team of highly intelligent, thoughtful, and motivated strategists.
And also, high achievers are the ones most likely to miss subtle signs of energy drain - simply because they’re so good at staying focused, over-delivering, and getting things done.
Energy work doesn’t change what they already do well. It supports it. It helps shift from relying on drive and momentum to operating with more intention, presence, and control - so high performance becomes easier to sustain and feels better along the way.
3. Energy is simple - but it’s not always easy
The ideas I share with my clients are simple - noticing your energy, what affects it, what drains or restores it, and the many small habits and patterns that shape it day to day.
What’s not easy is making the time for real change- the kind that happens when people actually slow down, learn, and practice together. Who has the time for that? 🙂
But when leaders intentionally create that space for their teams - give them permission to pause, experience new states, and notice things they usually rush past - something shifts. It becomes that first step many people never take on their own: the start of self-reflection and self-discovery. A break from autopilot. And the beginning of feeling more empowered, more aware, and more in control in everyday situations.
4. Awareness helps you respond, not just react
When leaders understand where their team’s energy really is, regularly check in on it, and address subtle energy leaks early, they enable their teams to respond with more awareness instead of constantly reacting and putting out fires.
The more awareness you have - of yourself and your environment - the better you become at managing attention, directing it where it matters most, and staying in control of your energy, which sits underneath everything else.
Hilary’s team already has strong energy, great relationships, and a very warm culture. And like any team operating under pressure in a fast-paced industry, learning how to regulate energy and respond with greater awareness simply deepens and strengthens what’s already there.
5. One size never fits all
My work always starts with an energy audit - understanding where a team or a person is right now and what matters most.
From there, the focus shifts depending on the group, across different dimensions of energy through my PEACE framework - Physical (habits, sleep, movement, and energy rhythms), Emotional (emotional awareness, regulation, and resilience under pressure), Attention (focus, priorities, mental clarity, and distractions), Connection (values, purpose, sources of joy, and fulfillment), and Environment (spaces, systems, and surroundings that either drain or support energy).
If you’re curious, you can start with the free self-assessment tool I've linked below - it offers immediate, practical insights.
6. Experience is the best teacher
You can read all you want about how to become a great chef - but until you cook, nothing really changes.
That’s why my sessions – whether group or 1:1 - are experiential. We don’t just talk about concepts; we practice in real time. People get to feel what shifts their energy and learn what their body and mind need - often in just a few intentional minutes, without adding more to their plate. Simple works. And simple sticks - because our brains crave simplicity.
7. Small wins matter more than big overhauls
At the end of the sessions, we went around the table and shared key takeaways. Hearing what shifted for people filled me with so much gratitude.
Because real change doesn’t come from remembering everything. It comes from one insight that lands at the right time - sparking a new perspective, greater awareness, and giving momentum to a change that continues after the session.
Sometimes, that’s all it takes to help someone feel more grounded, more in control, and more supported moving forward.
As one of the participants shared:
“It was a lovely experience all around. I learned a lot about myself and others that will be beneficial in the future in my personal and professional life. I only wish my previous employers would have invested in your course. There is a lot of valuable information and tactics to help executives align with their purpose, set their priorities, learn how to recognize energy shifts and find ways to manage their stress in a healthy manner, and how to be more mindful all around, to be more positive, and enhance their wellbeing overall. Thank you thank you thank you for all the takeaways, it’s going to help and be transformative for sure!”
Working with leaders like Hilary Borndahl - thoughtful and willing to pause and go deeper - is a real privilege. Thank you for the trust, for creating space for this work, and for inviting me to spend time with your incredible team.
If you’re a leader reading this and thinking “I want this for my team” - or if you’d like to go deeper 1:1 with more accountability and support to feel more in control of your energy – drop me a line, I’d love to chat.
Signing off for the holidays with a heart full of gratitude, and wishing you a beautiful season - with peace in your mind, love and joy in your heart, and calm, positive energy in your body. ❤️
If you’re new to my world and this content resonates:
👋 Follow for practical tips to stay energized, focused and in control of your time.
📩 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gcBuqDan
🧭 Download my free PEACE framework self-assessment tool to check your energy levels: https://lnkd.in/gxUSPjse
♻️ Share with someone who might benefit!
