The Energy We Bring
Choosing how we show up
After picking up a carpool of middle schoolers from musical theatre tech rehearsal, I took stock of their energy. It was nearly 9 p.m., and still their mood was electric—radiant, giggly, high-on-life. The kind of energy you can spot from a mile away.
I noticed the same thing after my 8-year-old played drums in front of a live audience for the first time—full-body connection to sound and rhythm.
And I saw it again last week with clients after a team-building workshop: once-disparate groups truly seeing one another, valuing their different contributions, and experimenting with how to collaborate more effectively.
This isn’t just a performer’s high. It’s the co-creator’s buzz.
It’s that elusive flow state—when we’re fully present, attuned, and integrated with the world around us. Distractions fade. Things click. Energy moves.
And yet, we live in a time when the attention economy competes for our energy at every turn. Doom scrolling. Constant noise. Carrying unprocessed stress and baggage into every conference room and Zoom call. With so much happening in the world—and within our organizations—it’s easy to feel powerless.
What we can control is our response.
The energy we bring.
How we choose to show up.
To lead through uncertainty and complexity, I’ve found three distinct energies that can meaningfully influence teams and culture.
Champion Energy: Belief in Possibility
Champion energy is supportive and buoyant. It helps us spot silver linings and lift morale—even when circumstances are hard.
This isn’t blind optimism or toxic positivity. Champion energy doesn’t ignore obstacles; it holds a belief that improvement is possible.
It sounds like:
“I believe you’ve got what it takes to turn this around.”
“Let’s work on this together—what’s one thing we could try next?”
Champion energy reminds teams that effort matters and that forward motion is possible.
Reflective Energy: Learning in the Pause
Reflective energy invites us to slow down and look inward. Quieter on the surface, it’s still deeply alive—rich with observation and insight.
This energy is rooted in curiosity:
“What could we learn from this?”
“What are you noticing as you reflect on this moment?”
Reflective energy moves things forward through patience and understanding. It creates space for meaning to emerge rather than forcing premature conclusions.
Co-Creator Energy: Imagination in Motion
Co-creator energy sparks innovation. It builds on connection and invites experimentation. It’s light, kinetic, and magnetic.
You’ll hear it in questions like:
“How could we approach this in a novel, unexpected way by reimagining this process?”
“What would be the business impact if we tried this?”
Anchored to a clear vision, co-creator energy is open-hearted and non-judgmental—yet courageous. It challenges teams to take risks, test ideas, and imagine something new together to drive value.
Choosing Your Energy Is a Leadership Skill
One of the most underrated leadership capabilities is knowing which energy to bring—and when. Each of these energies shapes culture and outcomes differently.
You can be more intentional about your energy by:
Getting clear on your values and living them visibly
Staying well-resourced (sleep, hydration, nourishing food)
Getting comfortable saying “no”—it really is a complete sentence
Prioritizing movement (take the stairs, walk the block, dance in your living room)
Staying socially connected (catching up with friends on a walk, hosting a dinner with neighbors, spending time with family)
Actively noticing and sharing the good stories
Setting a quiet intention before a difficult meeting
Reading the room and flexing to what others may need
Creativity flourishes when our energy flows in harmony with the world around us. This doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine or avoiding life’s harder moments. It means integrating the peaks and valleys—the pre-performance jitters and the post-show blues.
When we choose our energy with care, we can meet the moment, inspire our teams, and maybe—even at 9 p.m.—tap into a little of that carpool magic.
Want to be a good listener? Is your extroversion holding you back?
Turns out, the answer is likely no. According to the Journal of Vocational Behavior and highlighted by Adam Grant, limited studies reveal there is no correlation between introversion and being perceived as a better listener.
TL;DR: “Effective listening is better understood as a function of behavior and perception, not personality.”
Effective listening often comes down to establishing a emotional connection (with care and curiosity), demonstrating listening cues through body language, asking reflective, clarifying, and open-ended questions, and summarizing or playing back what you heard.
If you struggle with talking over others, interrupting, or speaking more than you listen, consider pausing before you speak. Weigh the necessity of having your voice heard and allow a few seconds of silence before contributing. You may be surprised by who chimes in and what you could learn.