When leaders talk about energy, we usually think about sleep, health, stress, and workload. All of that matters. But I believe there is another part of the conversation we sometimes miss. Are we spending our energy in the places where we are at our best?
I know there are parts of my work that give me life. I feel energized when I am helping people grow, encouraging someone, developing a leader, or helping a team move forward. Building up others gives me energy. It reminds me why I lead in the first place. Of course, no job is made up entirely of work we enjoy. Every leadership role includes paperwork, difficult conversations, routine tasks, and responsibilities that simply have to get done. We cannot avoid all the draining parts of leadership. But we can become more aware of what we do best, what gives us energy, and where someone else may be better suited to take the lead.
Sometimes leaders hold onto too much. We may tell ourselves it is faster to do it ourselves. We may think no one else can do it quite the way we can. Sometimes, if we are honest, it is about control.
The problem is that when we hold onto work that could be given to others, we are not only draining ourselves. We may also be holding our people back. People grow when they are trusted. They build confidence when they are given meaningful responsibility. They discover strengths they may not have known they had.
Delegation is not just about getting something off our plate. Good delegation is about matching the right responsibility with the right person.
Do we know what our people do well? Do we know what gives them energy? Do we know where they feel most confident, capable, and engaged? Strong leaders take the time to learn those things. They do not simply hand out tasks. They help people find the places where their strengths can make the greatest difference.
I have to admit that I do not know all my people as well as I should. It is easy to get caught up in deadlines, meetings, and the work right in front of us. But knowing our people is part of the work.
When we take the time to understand their strengths, what motivates them, and where they come alive, we lead more effectively. We also give people room to grow, contribute, and discover what they are capable of doing.
Leading with energy is not about avoiding hard work. It is about using our energy wisely and helping others do the same. The goal is not for the leader to carry everything. The goal is to build a team where people are trusted, developed, and positioned to bring their best.
That is how we increase our capacity. That is how we build stronger people. And that is how we create leadership that lasts.
BIO:
Donnie Lafferty is the Executive Director of Human Resources at West Georgia Technical College and a transformative leader known for encouraging and developing others. A former high school teacher and Head Baseball Coach, he brings a passion for mentoring and team building to every role he serves.
He also founded and led a corporation supporting nonprofits and ministries for over a decade. Today, Donnie hosts the OnePastor Podcast, helping hurting people navigate the real struggles of faith and life with biblical truth and honest hope. Donnie lives in Douglasville, Georgia with his wife Michelle and tiny dogs Simba and Hercules.