Lately, I’ve been coaching a newly promoted manager tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind by her predecessor.  Each session starts with a brain dump of what’s frustrating or overwhelming.  While it’s a useful release, I often find my own energy dipping by the end of it.  And if I’m feeling drained, I can only imagine what it’s like for her.

So what do we do with all that weight?

We can’t ignore the very real challenges of the role. But simply naming problems, or even our feelings about them, won’t solve anything on its own.

Recently, my team worked with a mindfulness practitioner during a retreat.  One of the first exercises was an energy check-in: grounding ourselves and noticing the energy we were bringing into the space.  The day of the retreat I was running on fumes after an early flight.  But I was also genuinely excited to be with my team.  Recognizing that both could be true allowed me to shift.  Tapping into the positive energy helped me move through the day with more intention and presence.

That’s the power of an energy check-in.

For overwhelmed managers juggling endless tasks and complex relationships, a moment of awareness can be a game changer.  Most managers are already in energy conservation mode, consciously or not.  But what if we started managing our energy the way we manage our calendars?

What if managers could find a way to check-in with themselves to better manage their own energy?

An energy check-in might be as simple as asking:
What am I feeling in my body right now?  Why might that be?

Before sessions with the new manager I coach, I’ve noticed myself holding my breath, bracing for a fast-talking onslaught.  That’s on me to notice, and to shift.  We can’t change what we won’t see.

I also do weekly energy audits: Which tasks gave me energy?  Which ones drained me? The goal isn’t to eliminate the lows, but to prepare for them and lean more intentionally into the highs.

Managers shape culture, that includes the energy we bring into every room.

Your team matches energy, so the question is, how are you showing up today?

If your energy’s low and your to-do list is high, let’s chat. We’ve got tools—and some fun pick me ups.