Leading on Empty: The Truth About Showing Up Anyway

Leadership doesn't require unlimited energy. It requires intentional energy.

Leaders set the energy in the room. We know this. People look to us-- not for perfection, but for presence. For steadiness. For direction. For the sense that the work can move forward.

But what happens on the days when you are worn thin? When the weight of decisions, deadlines, and the emotional load of holding others starts pressing back? When you walk into the meeting and you can feel the room waiting on your energy… and you have almost nothing left to give?

I once had a boss, during a period of incredibly low morale across the organization, tell us that our people should never catch a whiff of us being tired or having negative feelings. That we should learn to put a mask on for our teams. It was some of the worst leadership advice I’ve ever heard. Not only was it unrealistic, it made every leader in that room feel unseen. We weren’t being asked to rise; we were being asked to pretend. And nothing about that creates healthy, sustainable leadership.

Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: leadership doesn’t require unlimited energy. It requires intentional energy. Exhaustion isn’t failure. It’s feedback. And the real skill isn’t powering through-- it’s knowing how to set the tone even when you’re depleted.

Here are a few ways leaders can honor the moment and keep the work moving:

1. Name the reality without centering it. You don’t have to pretend you’re on fire when you’re not. A simple “Today is a heavy day, but we’re moving forward together” resets the room with honesty and steadiness, not drama.

2. Shift from performance to presence. People don’t need high-energy hype. They need grounded clarity. You can be quiet and still lead powerfully.

3. Use the room. Invite voices. Pull the brilliance from your team. When leaders are tired, collaboration becomes a strategic advantage, not a concession.

4. Choose one thing that moves the work forward today. Momentum doesn’t always look like intensity. Sometimes it’s a single, decisive step that keeps the path open.

5. Let your humanity be part of your leadership. Your team learns more from seeing you navigate exhaustion with intention than from watching you pretend you’re superhuman.

When leaders are tired and still show up with honesty, steadiness, and purpose, that isn’t weakness. That’s discipline. That’s presence. That’s real, authentic, and powerful leadership.