Feeling Drained as a Leader? Get Back into Integrity and Remove Your Energy Leaks!
Leaders often struggle with a lack of energy, not time.
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Leaders often struggle with a lack of energy, not time. The root cause can often be traced to misalignment between their values and actions, or "integrity gaps."
Quick Recap:
1. The Personal Cost of Misalignment:
- A story of being "out of integrity": Feeling burnt out, anxious, and trapped despite professional success.
- Staying stuck in unfulfilling roles may be rationalized as responsible but can drain energy and block growth.
2. Reclaiming Integrity and Energy:
Begin by asking three vital questions:
- What do I truly want?
- What steps can I take to get there?
- What tough conversations do I need to have?
Align actions with values to reclaim energy and achieve personal and professional goals.
3. Examples of Integrity Leaks:
- Wanting to stop a habit but continuing it (e.g., drinking Coke).
- Desiring to pursue interests (e.g., art class) but not acting on them.
- Acknowledging and fixing these gaps brings renewed energy.
4. Common Integrity Gaps for Leaders:
- Overworking Instead of Delegating: Reclaim energy through small delegations to empower others and prevent burnout.
- Saying Yes Out of Obligation: Learn to say no respectfully to focus on priorities while modeling this behavior for others.
- Avoiding Difficult Conversations: Clearing conflicts can liberate energy and foster alignment.
- Ignoring Unanswered Messages: Address avoidance issues behind unresponsiveness to regain clarity and alignment.
5. Owning Tough Truths:
- Recognize areas where actions contradict stated priorities.
- Declare true commitments honestly, whether it’s prioritizing work over health or family, then choose to accept or change it.
6. Actionable Challenge:
- Identify energy leaks: Commitments you're avoiding, tasks you aren't delegating, or conversations you're delaying.
- Take steps to address these gaps to feel re-energized and more alive as a leader.
Aligning actions with personal values not only reclaims energy but also fosters growth and fulfillment. Leaders can rejuvenate themselves by identifying integrity gaps and resolving them with honesty and focus.