The Energy Crisis in Business Leadership

When I first started out as one of the earliest personal trainers in my town — thanks to a Prince’s Trust loan — I noticed something important. Clients rarely failed because they lacked motivation. They failed because they were running on empty.

Fast forward 30+ years, and I see the same in business. Leaders and employees don’t struggle because they lack skills or ideas. They struggle because they don’t have enough energy left to execute at their best.

As a Team GB inline hockey player, I learned that energy was the deciding factor in sudden-death overtime. Everyone had skill. Everyone had desire. But only those with fuel left in the tank could stay sharp under pressure. Business is no different: decision-making, creativity, and resilience all collapse when energy runs low.

The Business Impact of Energy

A 2% drop in hydration can cut productivity by up to 20%. Sleep-deprived leaders are 30% more likely to make poor decisions. And stress alone costs UK businesses more than £30 billion annually. Energy isn’t just a “wellbeing issue.” It’s a performance driver — and ignoring it comes with a heavy price tag.

Personal Energy and Life Beyond Work

Energy also shapes who we are outside the office. Dehydration, poor sleep, and chronic stress spill over into personal lives, leaving people irritable, disengaged, or simply too tired to be present with loved ones. Improving energy habits benefits not just the business, but the whole person.

Tips to boost energy:

1. For leaders: Build 5-minute reset breaks into the day. Your clarity will improve more than if you push through.

2. For employees personally: Swap one coffee for a glass of water in the afternoon. You’ll avoid the 3pm crash.

3. For everyone: Guard 7–8 hours of sleep. Protect it like a board meeting, because it’s just as crucial.

Sometimes, the best way to reset isn’t at the desk. It’s in an environment designed for recovery and reconnection — where people can reset, reconnect, recharge and return to work sharper, stronger healthier and more effective.