Last week, I talked about energy leaks: that subtle drip that can leave us exhausted without even realising it. It resonated with so many of you and sparked some great side conversations. Which then got me thinking. I started asking myself: what can we actually do when we do not control our calendars, our bosses, or our inboxes? Because let’s face it, most of us live in that world. Are we just doomed to be energy shedders? Or is there another way?
As that was my life for close to 25 years and I coach many clients through this kind of professional life, I thought, “Yup, I do know another way.”
It starts with one thing we all can control: ourselves.
And how do we create flow even when we cannot control the day? It is with something I am going to call the Energy Architecture (Trademark coming soon 😊).
You don’t need a blank slate
To be clear, when I say “design your energy,” I do not mean clearing your schedule and building some idealised, Instagram-perfect day. We know deep down that most of us do not have that luxury.
Meetings are fixed, priorities are set, and the never-ending emails keep coming. And if you are in corporate or government land? Multiply that by ten. Add a few layers of bosses, and now you are in the thick of it.
Energy Architecture is not about freedom (that is something else entirely). It is about influence. Tiny pockets of influence. Little tweaks that create disproportionate impact. And yes, even in a week that feels like someone else is running the show, those small shifts matter. It all adds up.
Map your personal energy blueprint
Even in a rigid schedule, your energy has peaks and dips. You probably know the ones I mean. The 10 minutes after lunch, when your brain goes “nope, not doing that,” or that brief period in the morning when clarity arrives like a gift.
Take a moment and ask yourself:
- When do I actually feel clear and focused, even if just for a few minutes?
- When do I feel drained, distracted, or reactive?
- Which tasks or interactions actually energise me?
Track this informally for a few days. I promise you do not need a spreadsheet. Just notice patterns.
Tiny windows of clarity will appear: 15 or 30 minutes here and there. And here is the magic as far as I am concerned: that little pocket? You can use it.
One client, juggling three back-to-back meetings and a flooded inbox, discovered she had a single 20-minute window in the morning where she was energised. She used those 20 minutes to brainstorm a proposal that became a major win. She used the energy for herself, not against herself.
Micro-flows: small shifts, big impact
Once you see your rhythm, start experimenting with micro-flows. These aretiny ways to restore or align your energy, without requiring anyone else to participate.
Some examples:
- Pre-meeting ritual: Two minutes to breathe, centre yourself, or remind yourself why this (whatever this is) matters.
- Walking thinking time: Pace while drafting emails or brainstorming solutions (I can’t take phone calls sitting down, so yeah).
- Energy resets: Quick stretches, a coffee ritual, even just closing your eyes for a minute after a draining conversation.
- Task sequencing: Save your high-energy moments for demanding tasks; low-energy moments? Routine work.
These are small, practical experiments. I bet you can think of a few more – because you probably already do them! Bring them to the foreground of your day. They work because they give you agency. They make your day yours, even when most of it feels like it isn’t.
Reduce friction, reclaim presence
As leaders living in the real world, we know that friction is everywhere. Deadlines, meetings, back-to-back calls, team members needing things and priorities that shift by the hour (especially in corporate). Most of it is out of your control. But here is the thing I have seen and know to be true: how you respond? That is within your control.
Notice where your energy is slipping and ask yourself:
- What part of this interaction or task can I influence?
- How can I protect my focus or clarity right now?
- Can I delegate, defer, or approach this differently to reduce strain on myself?
Even subtle shifts: pausing before replying to a tricky email, mentally resetting before a call, structuring your responses intentionally, they all make a difference. And the ripple effect? People notice. Your energy becomes presence.
Feedback loops keep you aligned
Energy Architecture is not a “set and forget”, because things rarely work like that. It takes practice. So, build small feedback loops.
Try this: on your commute home, reflect for a few minutes:
- Where did I feel energised or in flow today? Why?
- Where did I feel friction or drain? Why?
- What small tweak could reclaim energy tomorrow?
These micro-adjustments compound. Over time, you will begin to understand your triggers: what lifts you, what drains you, even in a week where someone else is calling most of the shots.
Why it matters
Even when you do not control the day, small choices matter. I have seen leaders who notice and experiment with micro-shifts:
- Make calmer, clearer decisions under pressure – their energy is stable.
- Show up with presence instead of reacting from fatigue – their energy is consistent.
- Protect creative thinking and problem-solving time without needing permission – their energy is their differentiator.
- Model energy-conscious leadership that quietly transforms teams – their energy inspires.
This is the difference between surviving your day and leading it from flow.
Your first experiments
I want to reassure you that you do not need a new team, a cleared calendar, or a zero inbox (are those real or just a myth?). But I digress.
Start small:
- Notice one natural energy peak tomorrow and align one important task with it.
- Build a 2–3 minute pre-meeting or pre-task ritual.
- Insert one micro-flow reset after a draining interaction.
Do these consistently, and you will see it: energy multiplies when you design it within the constraints you have. That is Energy Architecture: meeting you where you are, not forcing a parallel universe.
I am constantly reminded that energy is not something we find out there in the world. It is something we reclaim and channel: ourselves. Even in the busiest, most structured environments, you can lead, create, and influence in ways that actually feel like you.
As always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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