Have you ever hit 3pm and felt like your brain just gave up?
You sit in front of the same screen, same to-do list, same decisions to make—but now everything feels harder. You question your motivation. Maybe even your capability.
Here’s a better explanation: you’re not lazy—you’re out of fuel.
Cognitive Capacity vs. Cognitive Energy
Your brain runs on two key resources:
- Cognitive capacity = your total ability to process, store and manage information
- Cognitive energy = your mental stamina in a given moment
Capacity is like the size of your tank.
Energy is how much fuel is in it.
Even if you’re sharp and capable, without energy, your performance tanks. You’ll revert to habits, mental shortcuts, and reactive thinking—all of which undermine inclusive leadership.
What Drains Your Energy Fastest?
The usual suspects:
- Back-to-back meetings
- Constant decision-making
- High-pressure conversations
- Juggling multiple priorities without downtime
And even things you enjoy—like learning—can deplete you if there’s no time to recover.
Inclusive Leadership Requires Energy
To lead inclusively, you need:
- Curiosity over assumption
- Reflection over reaction
- Patience over push
All of that takes energy. Without it, your brain falls back on biases and defaults.
So if you’ve been feeling like you’re “not performing” as the inclusive leader you want to be—it might be time to recharge.
