Leading Well When Energy Is Low
Your operating model might need a summer reset
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We’re three days into July, and already I’m hearing a familiar undercurrent from the leaders I work with: “I’m not sleeping properly,” “I’m exhausted,” and “I just feel drained” There’s still a lot to do before the holidays kick in - but energy is lower, focus is harder to hold, and everything takes a bit more effort than it should.
This time of year creates a subtle pressure. You know you need to keep going - there are projects to land, people to support, decisions to make.
But the combination of excessive heat, fatigue and pace is real. And if you’re running the same schedule, with the same expectations of yourself and others, you might find it’s not quite working like it used to.
Most leaders I work with have an operating rhythm that suits them - a way of working that’s been built through experience. But even the best operating model starts to strain if the environment shifts and the model doesn’t. It’s not that you’ve suddenly lost your edge. It’s that you’re applying winter rules in unexpectedly hot summer conditions.
The temptation, of course, is to push through. You’ve likely built a reputation on being dependable, resilient, the one who can keep going. But that identity - while often earned and valuable - can become a trap. When you pride yourself on stamina, it can feel uncomfortable to admit that something’s off.
But strength isn’t the same as endurance. The strongest leaders know when to shift gears, not just when to press harder.
This isn’t about doing less, or cutting back; it is about being more deliberate. You might not need to cancel the diary - but you might need to reshape it; protect thinking time, rethink what’s truly urgent and build in ways to reset your energy. And help your team do the same.
Because here’s the thing: your team takes their cues from you. If you keep going at full tilt whilst visibly wilting, they’ll assume they should too - even if it’s not working for them either. Adjusting your pace doesn’t lower the bar; it gives others permission to do the same. And that can be an act of leadership in itself.
And then there’s decision quality. It’s easy to keep the wheels turning, but harder to notice when the quality of thinking starts to thin out. Summer decisions shape September. Pushing through might get things done, but it can come at the cost of clarity, nuance and timing - and those trade-offs tend to show up later.
If in doubt, try looking ahead. How do you want to arrive in September? Depleted, short-tempered, slightly frayed? Or ready, clear-headed, and on the front foot?
These next eight weeks are a runway to one of the busiest months of the year - and how you navigate them matters. Designing the way you lead through this season isn’t a luxury. It’s part of the job.
The leaders who do this well don’t slow down arbitrarily. They make conscious adjustments, tune into the environment they’re working in, and lead with precision rather than default.
This is not easing off; it’s smart leadership under real-world conditions.
Self: When things feel harder than usual, it’s easy to get frustrated and blame yourself. But sometimes, it’s your environment that needs attention.
What signs does your body give you when you’re running low?
What do you need more of - and less of - in this season?
What’s one pattern or expectation you could loosen, just for now?
Team: Your energy sets the tone. When you adjust, you give others permission to do the same.
What cues might your team be taking from you about pace, urgency, or stamina?
Who might be struggling silently - and what might help them adapt?
What conversation could you open up about changing gears without losing momentum?
System: We often build our personal or team operating models for ‘normal’ conditions - but what is normal is always shifting.
What assumptions are baked into how your team or business works day to day?
Where might you be prioritising consistency over effectiveness?
What needs to evolve in your system to support sustainable performance - even in tough conditions?
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