What It Means to Be a Leader of Energy, Not Just People

Over the years, I’ve led teams, facilitated thousands of conversations, and held space for transformation at every level of an organization. I’ve trained leaders, coached executives, and mentored young people standing on the edge of possibility. And in all of those experiences, one truth has become abundantly clear: 

The most powerful leaders don’t just manage people. They manage energy. 

We’ve all been taught to associate leadership with titles, skills, and results. We measure success in performance indicators and progress reports. But underneath all of that, in the spaces between words and actions, is something more elemental—something that shapes every decision, every relationship, every outcome. 

That something is energy. 

The Real Work Is Energetic 

Energy shows up in how you enter a room. It lives in the tone of your voice, the pacing of your speech, the quality of your listening. It’s in the tension you hold when you're uncertain and in the steadiness you offer when others are unraveling. 

You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your energy says “I’m burned out,” “I don’t believe in this,” or “I’m just going through the motions,” everyone will feel it—even if no one says a word. 

The good news? Energy is not fixed. It’s not a personality trait. It’s something we can generate, shift, and lead with intention. 

What That Looks Like in Practice 

Managing energy—your own and others'—doesn’t require dramatic gestures. Often, it looks like: 

• Noticing the room and naming what’s present, even when it’s uncomfortable. 

• Breathing before speaking to avoid reacting from a place of defensiveness or ego. 

• Redirecting stuck momentum by asking a bold question or inviting a moment of pause. 

• Bringing joy, curiosity, or clarity into moments that might otherwise be heavy. 

It’s subtle but powerful. And once you start leading from this place, everything changes. 

The Leadership We Need Now 

We are living through a time of great complexity—socially, environmentally, politically, emotionally. People are tired of performative leadership. They’re craving authenticity. Nervous systems are dysregulated. Trust is fragile. 

What’s required now are leaders who are grounded in purpose and flexible in presence. Leaders who can meet the moment not just with plans, but with energy that restores, inspires, and invites alignment. 

This isn’t about hype or charisma. It’s about emotional fluency. Embodiment. The ability to read a room, sense what's not being said, and consciously move toward coherence. 

We are not just managing workflows anymore. We are shaping ecosystems. 

Your Invitation 

If you’re holding space for others, making decisions that impact people’s lives, or showing up in service of a vision—you’re already leading energy. 

The question is: Are you doing it intentionally? 

• What emotional climate do you cultivate around you? 

• How do people feel after they’ve been in a meeting or a conversation with you? 

• Are you bringing the kind of energy that builds trust, clarity, and momentum? 

These are the new leadership metrics. And the leaders who will shape the future are the ones who understand that presence is power. 

Join Us Inside CultureRoad 

This is the kind of leadership we nurture inside the CultureRoad community—where equity meets embodiment, and where strategy is always paired with soul. 

We’re launching a new intentional cohort in September for leaders who want to develop the tools, mindset, and support system to lead with courage, clarity, and conscious energy. 

You’ll get: 

• Curated learning journeys and live workshops 

• Coaching and community grounded in real-world practice 

• Honest conversations about power, identity, and the future of leadership 

If that speaks to you, join the waitlist. We’re building something rare, and we’d love to have you in the room. 

Be the person who brings the energy that transforms the room—not by force, but by presence. 

That’s leadership. 

Sending energetic love, 

– DeEtta