Grounded: How Leaders Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World

CHAPTER 5

Energy Management

Think about your typical workday, which may look something like this: You arrive early to get a jump on the hundreds of emails and voice messages waiting. Soon people begin to show up at your office with problems and issues that need your immediate input. Next it's back-to-back meetings where you stay focused for a couple of hours, concentrating on what everyone needs and says. Your energy may flag because of jet lag, a bad night's sleep, or having spent most of the previous night on the phone dealing with an overseas crisis. To pump yourself up, you take a mental break, drink a couple cups of coffee, or go for a short walk.

Lunch is quick and at your desk, but you avoid heavy foods that slow you down. During the ...