Ever feel like you’re getting lived by your life? Plenty of leaders feel like they’re being dragged along by their schedule. Somehow we end up on a never-ending cycle of reactivity that leaves us feeling drained, unfulfilled, and stuck on a treadmill.
We all want to grow, to lead with clarity and purpose, and to create an impact that lasts. But how can we make the shift from barely surviving to thriving? At Stay Forth, the primary shift under our coaching work is helping leaders transition from reactive to proactive living. When implemented, this shift can not only help you prevent burnout but also help you design the life you truly want.
In a world that never stops, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of constantly reacting to the demands and pressures that face us every day. This reactive mode of living leaves little room for intentionality and can lead us down a path of burnout and dissatisfaction. However, the shift from reactive to proactive leadership can fundamentally alter the course of our lives and careers, enabling us to design the life we truly want.
From reactive to proactive
Reactive leadership is characterized by a day-to-day, moment-to-moment responsiveness to external stimuli, often leading to a sense of being overwhelmed and out of control. Leaders find themselves trapped in a cycle of putting out fires and dealing with the immediate, at the expense of the important. This way of living and leading not only limits our potential impact but also diminishes our sense of fulfillment and purpose. On the contrary, proactive leadership involves taking charge of our lives, setting clear goals, priorities, and making intentional choices about the direction we want to go. It means stepping back, evaluating our values, our passions, and aligning our actions accordingly.
Making the shift from reactive to proactive leadership doesn’t happen overnight. It requires reflection, dedication, and the willingness to question deeply ingrained habits and patterns. Change can be hard, but the rewards are immense. Proactive leaders not only experience greater impact and success but also report higher levels of satisfaction and well-being. They are able to design their lives in a way that is aligned with their deepest values and aspirations, rather than being swept along by the current of external expectations. As we embark on this journey of transforming our approach to leadership, we unlock the potential to not only achieve our goals but to do so in a way that is sustainable, enjoyable, and deeply fulfilling.
Change can be hard, but the rewards are immense.
From Time Management to Energy Investment
In today’s fast-paced world, the traditional time management strategies just don’t cut it anymore. It’s not just about squeezing every minute out of your day; it’s about investing your energy wisely. The currency of leadership is energy, not time. The crucial shift from time management to energy investment focuses on where you channel your efforts to maximize your productivity. It’s about recognizing that not all tasks are created equal—some drain you, while others energize you. By identifying these differences, you can allocate your energy in a way that serves you better in the long run.
Imagine working on a project that excites you—you’re likely to feel more energized and accomplish more, even if it takes up a lot of time. On the other hand, tasks that you find tedious or unfulfilling can deplete your energy quickly, regardless of the time they consume. This is why we love The Working Genius assessment; it helps you identify which tasks are draining and which are fulfilling. This shift in perspective encourages you to prioritize tasks based on their energy impact, leading to more sustainable and enjoyable productivity. It’s about making deliberate choices to engage in activities that boost your energy, allowing you to bring your best self to every aspect of your life.,
The Power of Choosing Proactive Living
Living reactively is like running on a treadmill that never stops. It’s a state where our days are dictated by external demands, robbing us of the power to shape our lives. When we are reactive, we’re stuck in survival mode, our vision narrows, and despite our hard work, we feel like we’re getting nowhere. This endless cycle not only limits our impact but drains us, leaving us feeling exhausted and unfulfilled. The truth is, we can’t carve out a life that’s truly ours if we’re constantly responding to the world around us. It’s time to shift from merely reacting to life’s events to proactively designing the life we aspire to lead.
Finding Freedom in Proactivity
The shift from reactive to proactive living is foundational. It’s about changing how we view and approach life. Proactive living offers us the freedom to align our daily actions with our true purpose and goals. This transformation requires us to pause, reflect, and identify what truly matters to us. By doing so, we gain the clarity to prioritize our activities and commitments. Living proactively means scheduling our time and energy in ways that reflect our values and aspirations. It involves creating space in our lives for what energizes us and gives us joy. This change doesn’t mean we do less; it means we do what’s meaningful. There’s incredible freedom in choosing how we spend our time and in knowing that our actions are leading us toward a life that’s rich and fulfilling.
Living proactively means scheduling our time and energy in ways that reflect our values and aspirations.
Unlocking the Power of Energy Investment over Time Management
Many leaders and professionals find themselves trapped in a cycle of time management, constantly reacting to the next task or appointment. However, embracing a shift from being reactive to proactive can open the door to true freedom. This proactive approach allows us to carve out space for what truly matters, breaking free from the feeling of being boxed in by our schedules. It’s about finding pockets of time to invest in activities that recharge us, enabling us to step into our true potential and offer our best selves to the world.
Energy Investment: A Game Changer
The concept of shifting from time management to energy investment is revolutionary. Understanding where we invest our energy can have a far greater impact than how we manage our time. This approach prioritizes activities that not only fulfill us but also have the potential to multiply our effectiveness. When we invest energy into our strengths and passions, we can create a ripple effect, enhancing our productivity and influencing those around us positively. It’s about making deliberate choices to invest our energy in ways that bring the greatest return, both personally and professionally. This mindset shift from mere time allocation to thoughtful energy investment can transform the way we work, live, and lead.
The journey from time management to energy investment is transformative. It’s not just about doing more in less time but doing what truly matters and doing it well. The freedom found in this approach allows you to live a life aligned with your values and passions, leading to greater fulfillment and impact. It requires self-awareness, discipline, and a willingness to make tough choices about how you invest your energy.
By focusing on energy investment, you empower yourself to build a life that’s not just busy, but rich and rewarding. Start today – identify one area where you can shift from merely spending time to investing energy, and watch how it changes your life for the better.
Understanding where we invest our energy can have a far greater impact than how we manage our time.
What does shifting from time management to energy investment mean?
It means focusing more on where you invest your energy for maximum impact and fulfillment instead of just trying to manage your time efficiently. It’s means living on purpose and it gives you purpose, a compounding cycle.
How can I start investing my energy more wisely?
Begin by identifying activities that energize you and those that drain you. Gradually reduce the draining activities and increase the energizing ones, like easing up on the clutch while pressing on the gas.
Can I really find more freedom by being proactive?
Yes, by planning ahead and setting firm boundaries, you create more freedom in your schedule to do the things that matter most to you. It won’t happen immediately, but eventually you’ll feel very different about the way you work.
How do I know what activities are worth my energy?
Assess how each activity impacts your personal and professional life. Activities that contribute to your goals and fill you with energy are worth investing in. We highly recommend the Working Genius assessment as it points you to energy and fulfillment.
* I share in depth about burnout and a path to resist it in my highly practical book AntiBurnout; a lighter way to live and lead in a heavy world.
Alan briggs
Position
Alan Briggs helps CATALYTIC LEADERS leverage CATALYTIC MOMENTS for SYSTEMIC CHANGE. He serves businesses and nonprofits as a Leadership Coach, Sabbatical Coach, team consultant, podcaster and speaker. He founded and leads Stay Forth Coaching to help leaders experience deep health and impact and create healthy cultures around them.