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Ep. 65 - Leading On Empty: When You Don’t Feel Like a Leader
Manage episode 523789518 series 3600159
In Episode 65 of Crossroad Conversations, the Lewis Brothers dive into the reality of what it means to lead when you’re running on empty. They discuss how leadership isn’t about being perfect — it’s about consistency, showing up when the energy is gone, and staying responsible to your team even on hard days. The episode explores burnout, personal endurance, learning when to recharge, empowering others to step up, and balancing vulnerability with accountability. This conversation highlights the importance of adjusting daily workloads to match energy levels, asking for help, and remembering that leadership is less about spotlight moments and more about steady commitment to the people who rely on you.
TAKEAWAYS
Leadership requires showing up even when you don’t feel your best
Consistency matters more than perfection
Burnout happens when leaders don’t take time to refuel
Recharging yourself allows your team to grow stronger
Empowering others builds leadership capacity across your team
Adjusting workloads helps maintain productivity during low-energy days
Vulnerability can strengthen team trust
You don’t need all the answers — you need the right people
Asking for help leads to better outcomes
Long-term success comes from steady discipline, not occasional highs
CHAPTERS
00:00 Leading When You’re Running on Empty
02:15 Consistency Over Perfection
03:17 Bronco Competition and Value Segment
05:16 The Reality of Burnout
07:05 Why Leaders Must Recharge
09:29 The Pitcher-and-Cup Leadership Analogy
10:31 Showing Up Through the Grind
11:09 Endurance Running and Mental Toughness
12:38 Leadership Responsibility Stories
14:15 Family and Work Parallel Leadership
15:57 Why Rest Makes Better Leaders
17:19 Admitting You Don’t Have the Answers
19:12 Leadership Lessons from Ford’s Turnaround
21:30 Building the Right Leadership Team
24:18 Adjusting Your Day to Match Energy Levels
27:31 Leading Without the Spotlight
29:03 Recharging While Staying Responsible
31:07 Empowering Others to Step Up
33:06 Learning to Ask for Help
34:06 Consistency Always Wins
Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.
Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!
Chapters
1. Opening And Today’s Theme (00:00:00)
2. Recap And Housekeeping (00:02:33)
3. What’s In The Garage: Bronco Updates (00:03:14)
4. Defining Leading On Empty (00:05:17)
5. Self‑Care As A Leadership Duty (00:07:11)
6. Consistency Beats Perfection (00:11:16)
7. Admit When You Don’t Know (00:14:06)
8. Burnout, Energy Management, And Adjustments (00:18:11)
9. Delegation, Empowerment, And Asking For Help (00:22:03)
10. Daily Cadence, Micro‑Meetings, And Holiday Rush (00:25:21)
11. What We’re Still Figuring Out (00:28:21)
12. Closing And Listener Requests (00:30:33)
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