Recently, I was meeting with a community of professionals for a Q4 planning session. The group
was discussing words and phrases that were reflective of the energy each person wished to
lean into as part of planning their Q4 priorities. Listening to the participants, it became clear
many felt a desire to release the to-do’s and mindsets they found to be draining in favor of
embracing ones that felt more restorative. I was pleased to see these busy professionals
coming to this realization. Lately it seems as though society is encouraging us all to “finish (the
year) strong!” which in and of itself can leave leaders imposing massive pressure on themselves
as well as their teams. I was witnessing the “finish strong” sentiment being questioned and
rebuffed and I understood why.

The conversations happening within this group led me to reflect on a really fabulous multi-day
workshop I had participated in when I was still working in corporate – Kellogg’s Corporate
Athlete program. The primary intent of the program was to help leaders learn to manage their
energy to obtain extraordinary results. A couple of the many takeaways from the program that
resonated with me then (and still do today):

• The fact that as humans, our bodies need more energy in order for us to continually
  have energy to expend. There are limited natural ways for us to increase our energy
  levels: through the food we choose to eat, through increased oxygen flow as a result of
  exercise, and through restorative sleep.
• The comparison made between corporate leaders and Olympic athletes. Olympic
  athletes train for years and regularly condition themselves both mentally and physically
  in order to be able to reach their potential, overcome challenges and setbacks, and
  ultimately achieve their goals at the Olympics. Corporate leaders on the other hand are
  expected to reach their leadership potential and deliver optimal results no matter the
  state of their leadership readiness as measured by their physical and mental wellbeing.

Early leaders often don’t make the connection between their well-being and their ability to fuel
their own leadership effectiveness. Many simply haven’t learned this perspective in school or
their place of work. This shift in mindset is a significant one and can absolutely shape the
trajectory of a rising leader’s impact and long-term success.

So, this month I’d like to invite you to embrace the priority of rest. Spend a little time reflecting
on any changes you’d like to make to your nighttime routine so that you’re able to incorporate
more sleep in your schedule. Get curious about your sleep. Research how much is optimal for
you based on your personal needs and make getting that amount consistently a priority.
Consider wearing a device that tracks the amount and quality of your sleep and uncover how
much of each of the key sleep types you are actually getting. And of course, if you are sleep-
challenged, be sure to speak with your doctor or a sleep expert and get the professional
support and guidance that will help you get the rest you deserve.

Can fueling your leadership effectiveness really be as simple as getting more rest? Well,
research says it’s certainly part of the equation! Let us know your thoughts!