⚡ Energy Before Strategy: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything

Every leader hits moments where the plan isn’t working. The instinct is to dive into action — to tweak the process, redesign the plan, or chase a better outcome. But often, what’s really missing is energy before strategy. Because if you’re showing up drained, even the best plan will fall flat.

But what if the problem isn’t the plan?

What if it’s how you’re showing up to it?

🧠 Strategy Doesn’t Work When You’re Burnt Out

You can have the smartest to-do list in the world —
but if you’re running on low energy, everything feels uphill.

When you’re tired:

  • You default to reactivity

  • You second-guess your decisions

  • You struggle to connect or lead effectively

That’s because your state shapes your strategy.
And most of us are trying to think clearly… from a fog.

🌀 Energy Drives Clarity

Here’s what we’ve seen time and again:

  • When you’re calm → you access better judgment

  • When you’re energised → you move from intention, not urgency

  • When you’re grounded → people around you feel safer and clearer too

Energy is contagious — and whether you realise it or not, you’re always setting the tone.

🔄 Flip the Script: What Energy Do I Need to Bring?

Instead of asking, “What should I do next?”, ask:

“What energy do I need to bring into this?”

Confidence? Curiosity? Patience? Courage?

Once you know, shift into it.
Take a walk. Breathe deeply. Stand up and move.
Whatever resets you — do it first.
Then return to the strategy.

Because clarity doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from being better resourced to lead.

✅ Download: The 5-Minute Energy Audit

We’ve created a simple tool you can use every week:
The Energy Audit — a quick worksheet to spot what’s draining you, what’s fuelling you, and what to shift before you strategise.

📥 [Download the Energy Audit]

Stick it on your desk. Print it for your team.
Use it as a weekly reset.

🗣️ This Week’s Challenge:

Before you solve the problem, shift your state.
Ask yourself:
“What would energised me do next?”

Try it.
Notice the difference.
Then imagine the ripple effect when your whole team leads this way.

Join us on LinkedIn — this week, we’re sharing stories and prompts around energy, state, and showing up with intention.
Or catch up on last week’s blog, where we explored how to create space before reacting.

Let’s build leaders who lead well — especially when it matters most.
— The Fox Coaching Team