One shift in mindset that can change how you lead, work, and live
These seven words landed deeply with me this week:
“We don’t manage time, we manage energy.”
They come from my colleague and friend, Silvia Damiano, founder of the About My Brain Institute and creator of the i4 Neuroleader™ Model. In a recent article, Silvia shared what she’s been seeing in her work with leaders and executive teams, and it’s something we can all relate to.
We’ve been taught to plan our time to the minute, tick off to-do lists, and chase productivity. But very few of us were ever taught how to manage our energy – the emotional, cognitive, and psychological fuel that actually determines how we show up each day.
You can read Silvia’s full article here:
The Real Reason You’re Exhausted – Energy Management Beyond Time and To-Do Lists
6 Energy Influencers Worth Reflecting On
Here are some of the key takeaways Silvia explored, which I found so insightful:
1. Habits & Routines
Are your daily rhythms restoring you or wearing you out? Leaders often skip recovery, and that’s a recipe for depletion.
2. Brain Wiring & Neurotype
Working in a way that suits your brain type is more energising than trying to fit into a one-size-fits-all approach.
3. Emotional Resilience
It’s not about never feeling stressed, it’s about recovering faster. The best leaders feel, name, and work through emotions intentionally.
4. Cognitive Framing
How you interpret pressure matters. A reframed thought like “I’m falling behind” into “I need to reset” can shift your whole day.
5. Trauma & Conditioning
Unexamined beliefs like “rest is lazy” can drain us. Challenging these stories is part of the work.
6. Purpose & Values
Energy flows when your actions align with your values. Purposeful work takes less energy to sustain.
A Weekly Nudge: What’s One Shift You Can Make?
This week, I invite you to reflect on this:
What is one small shift you can make to protect or restore your energy?
Some gentle ideas to consider:
- Take a screen-free walk
- Reframe a stressful story
- Reconnect to your purpose
- Ask yourself: What actually energises me, and how can I do more of that?
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You just need to begin with one conscious step.
Tools to Support Your Shift
Download the i4 Neuroleader™ Roadmap
Use this as your personal leadership companion. Print it, write on it, or bring it into team conversations. It’s a brilliant visual guide to reflect on how you lead and live.
Try the Heart 2 Heart Conversation Cards
Connection is energy. These cards are powerful tools for meaningful dialogue in workshops, leadership circles, or even one-on-one moments.
Final Thought
When you protect your energy, you don’t just preserve your capacity, you expand your impact.
Silvia’s article is a must-read, and I hope it inspires you as much as it did me. If you’d like to explore these ideas more deeply, we unpack all of this (and more) inside the Brain-Friendly Leadership Certification – a space to integrate neuroscience, wellbeing, and intentional leadership.