You Can’t Lead
With an Empty Tank

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Hey Spark Family,

Let’s talk about something most leaders won’t admit:

Leadership is emotionally draining.

It’s not just the meetings or the metrics.
It’s the emotional labor.
The context switching.
The invisible weight of holding everyone else together.

You’re not just managing tasks. You’re managing energy.
And if yours is running on fumes, that matters more than you think.

The Research Is Clear

• 61% of leaders say emotional exhaustion is the biggest blocker to performance in Q3. (Gallup, 2025)​
➡ Translation: It’s not a time issue, it’s an energy issue.

• Teams led by emotionally exhausted leaders are 32% more likely to experience disengagement and turnover spikes. (McKinsey, 2025)​
➡ Translation: Burnout is contagious.
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• Leaders who adopt intentional recovery practices show 41% better team retention and innovation scores. (HBR, 2025)​
➡ Translation: When you recharge, your team thrives too.

When you pause to protect your energy, you’re not being selfish.
You’re setting the tone for a healthy, high-performing culture.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

The leaders I coach right now aren’t falling short on strategy.
They’re falling short on space.

They’re showing up to every meeting, checking every box - but feeling completely disconnected from their purpose, their joy, and sometimes even their people.

If you feel that… you’re not alone.
And you’re not broken.
You’re depleted.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

You don’t need to push through.

You need to pause, reflect, and reset.
Here’s how we help leaders recover their energy and recalibrate:

Pattern Interrupts
​➡ Small, intentional shifts that signal: this moment matters.
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​Repeatable Recovery Rhythms
​➡ It’s not about big breaks - it’s about consistent ones.

Modeling Vulnerability Without Losing Authority
​➡ Saying “I need to regroup” isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

Energy Check-Ins for Your Team
​➡ If you're drained, chances are... so are they.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Ask yourself:

• Where am I over-functioning at the cost of my energy?
• What tiny reset would give me more space this week?
• What message does my pace send to my team?

You can’t lead with an empty tank.
But you can build rhythms that refill it.

Let’s create space for sustainable impact - together.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – Know another leader who's running on fumes? Send this their way. Leadership doesn’t have to cost your well-being. Let’s change that, one pause at a time. ✨

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