Every leader leaves a trail behind them, an emotional wake.
It’s what people feel after you’ve left the room, sent the email, or finished the meeting. It’s the unspoken mood you create through your tone, body language, and presence.
I often remind leaders: your team will match your energy before they follow your words.
The Ripple Effect
We all know leaders who can lift a room just by walking in—and others who suck the life out of it without saying a word. Research by Harvard Business School found that leaders’ emotions are contagious; morale, performance, and creativity rise or fall depending on the energy you project.
When you’re tired, anxious, or frustrated (as many SME owners are right now), that energy leaks out. People start mirroring it. Meetings become tense. Initiative drops. And before you know it, the whole business feels flat—without anyone being able to pinpoint why.
Self-Awareness Is the Starting Point
Emotional awareness isn’t soft stuff—it’s leadership hygiene. Ask yourself regularly:
- How am I showing up today?
• What impact might my mood have on others?
• What tone do I want to set before I walk into that room?
Taking 30 seconds to check your emotional state before a conversation can completely change its outcome.
Managing Your Leadership Energy
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Leading well means managing your own physical, mental, and emotional energy.
Try these:
- Reset rituals. Take short pauses between meetings—deep breaths, a short walk, or even standing outside for two minutes. Also, DON’T book back-to-back meetings as that is a recipe for disaster, leave 10-15 minutes gaps
- Name and tame it. When you’re frustrated or fatigued, name it privately—it helps you stop transmitting it.
- Recovery matters. Sleep, exercise, and time with people who recharge you aren’t luxuries. They’re fuel.
- Seek honest feedback. Ask your team what it feels like when you’re at your best—and when you’re not.
Energy Is Culture
Culture isn’t written in values statements—it’s felt in daily interactions. The way you greet someone, how you react to bad news, how you close a meeting—those moments define the emotional tone of your business.
If you’re leading through uncertainty, your steadiness and optimism are more powerful than any strategy document. Your people don’t just need your direction; they need your energy.
So before you walk into your next meeting, pause and ask yourself: What emotional wake do I want to leave behind today?
If you’d like help building self-awareness and energising your leadership, give me a call.
Gerry Lynch
Vistage Chair | Leadership Coach | CEO Advisor
📧 Gerry@realleadershipnz.co.nz | 📞 021-895044
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