Why Leaders Are Tired

I have a client right now who is exhausted. He’s the president of his company and he’s not excited about going to work. When he’s there he wants to leave. When he looks towards his future, the days and years seem downright uninspiring. In our last session, with much exasperation he asked “Why am I so tired?”  The answer was clear. For a few months now, he’s been asking more from his leadership team, but not getting the results he needs. We worked on “checking” him: his approach, communication and ego. Although he had room to clean up a few things, deep down he knew the “truth.” He needed to make serious changes to the team itself. He knew what needed to happen, but he kept trying to make it work. To be fair, his choice to keep the team intact made sense. They had big deliverables so this was hardly the time to create upheaval.  Or was it?During our session we dug into the real source of his exhaustion. It wasn’t a lack of sleep or exercise. That would have been far easier to remedy. He finally admitted that this change was going to be really hard for him, both personally and professionally. Making a bold move like this was scary. And in truth, his resistance wasn’t about the timing; it was his fear of making the change. The resistance was making him tired.  And the longer he resisted, the more it cost him and his team. Change isn’t always easy and it’s natural to feel that staying with the status quo would be both easier and more efficient. Don’t be fooled. The natural state of energy is to move, change and flow. We actually waste energy when we try to constrict, control or suppress change.  And when energy is restricted, or worse, lost, we naturally get exhausted, uninspired, and cranky. Both our leadership and our life suffer. My client made the move. The team is changing and yes, there is upheaval. But, there is also energy. My client feels it. He is more energized, more focused, and more purposeful than ever. Now that he has stopped resisting change, the energy in him and his company can once again flow.  Making bold leadership moves and stepping boldly into change is far more effective than any power-nap!Experiment:When you’re feeling tired or your energy is low for “no good reason,” take a look at your life. Be curious about whether or not there is some truth or change you are resisting. Be a detective. Assume that there is something to find. Where is the energy drain or leak? And what can you do about it?  Just the act of looking can be energizing! And once found? Thenyou can take that nap.