Most leaders think motivation is enough. 

Wrong. 

Motivation fades. Energy sustains.

This is something I’ve learned both in my own leadership journey and in coaching others. 

Teams don’t thrive because of one inspirational speech or a bold new idea. 

They thrive when energy is sustained, modelled, and celebrated.

A Personal Lesson in Sustaining Energy

I’ll never forget a project where I came up with what I thought was a fantastic idea. My team loved it and everyone was excited, full of energy, and ready to run with it.

But here’s the problem: I didn’t build in checkpoints. We had no reporting mechanisms to keep momentum alive, and I didn’t create moments to celebrate progress.

By the time our next meeting rolled around, I asked how everyone was going with their part of the project… and it became clear I hadn’t set it up effectively to sustain their energy. The initial spark had fizzled.

That’s when I realised that motivation gives you a strong start, but energy keeps you moving.

The Mirror Effect: Your Team Feels What You Carry

Another lesson came during a time when I was pushing myself too hard. I was staying up late trying to get on top of everything and preparing for executive meetings, and it started to take a toll.

Because I was tired and stretched thin, I began missing key details and overlooking feedback I needed from the team. During meetings, I felt frustrated with myself, and without meaning to, I projected that frustration onto the room.

Guess what happened? 

My team’s energy shifted to mirror mine. They became tense, flat, and less engaged. Not because they’d lost interest in the work, but because they were reflecting the energy I was carrying in with me.

This is the mirror effect in action: your team doesn’t just hear your words, they absorb your energy.

Three Overlooked Energisers Leaders Miss

So how do you build and sustain team energy beyond motivation?

Here are three practices that make all the difference:

1. Modelling Recovery
   Instead of bragging about staying up late, share that you switched off early or took a reset walk. It gives your team permission to do the same.
   
   
2. Emotional Pulse Checks
   Don’t just ask, “How’s the project going?” Ask, “How are you going?” Those two minutes can reset the tone of the whole day.
   
   
3. Celebrating Small Wins
   Don’t wait for the big milestone. Energy is fuelled when you pause to recognise progress in the middle. “That draft was brilliant” or “That client email really captured the message beautifully” goes a long way.
   
   

From Motivation to Energy

Motivation fades. Energy sustains. When you model recovery, check in emotionally, and celebrate wins, you create a culture of energy that carries your team forward.

I noticed my team switching off, so I paused and said, ‘Let’s check in for a minute.’ The shift was immediate. That shifted my energy and then everyone else shifted to be more focussed and interested. Following this we built in a “TOM”- Top Of Mind share at the start of our meetings so everyone had a minute to share what was occupying their mind at the moment. Everyone felt seen and heard and were then able to move on. Even more than that, the team had the opportunity to identify ways they could support one another and collaborate even more.

In my Emotional Energy Reset Diagnostic, I call this Zone 3: Team Drain. If meetings feel heavy, if small wins go unnoticed, or if your team mirrors your stress it’s a sign your energy is draining them, too.

👉 Download the Emotional Energy Reset Diagnostic to see where your leaks might be.

Final Thought

Energised teams don’t just happen. They’re built intentionally by leaders who understand that their energy sets the tone.

If you want the full framework for sustaining energy, influence, and stamina, that’s exactly what I teach inside my online course Be Exceptional.