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Are You Leading or Just Reacting?
Do You Crave More Space?
Space to think.
Space to breathe.
I remember working in a busy retail environment filled with constant hustle, back-to-back meetings, and nonstop movement. I carried my laptop and lunch with me so I could type notes and actions on the go. I kept drinks beside me so I would not forget to hydrate. Food was squeezed in between conversations.
People used to say I was โa woman on a mission.โ But honestly, I trained myself to be that way.
I believed being organised and in control was the only way to cope. As part of a Senior Leadership team, you are fielding demands from above while trying to inspire and lead the people around you. The pressure comes from every direction.
When you are in constant hustle mode, something important happens. You stop leading strategically and slip into reactive leadership. You are no longer creating direction. You are coping with what is in front of you. You are firefighting instead of mentoring. Responding instead of inspiring.
What Happens When Leaders Have No Space to Think
That pace followed me into the early years of my own business. And if I am honest, it was not just the environment, it was me.
I have always been an overachiever. Driven. Capable. The person who could handle more. For a long time, that looked like a strength. But it also meant I was the one creating the pressure, always striving, always pushing for the next outcome.
If I was not doing, I felt like I was not being productive. Slowing down felt uncomfortable, almost wrong. Burnout is a whole other story.
What I have had to learn, and keep learning, is how to slow down intentionally. To look backwards and acknowledge progress. To celebrate what worked, and what did not. To separate my worth from constant output.
I have had to actively unlearn those behaviours and separate busyness from value. Now everything I do is intentional. I slow down to speed up. I create space on purpose, not as a luxury, but as a core sustainable leadership practice that supports clarity, better decision-making, and long-term performance.
Why Space Improves Leadership Performance
Sustainable leadership is the ability to lead in a way that protects long-term performance, team wellbeing, and decision quality. It requires intentional space for thinking, reflection, and strategic focus.
Creating space improves focus, emotional regulation, creativity, and the quality of decision-making. For high-performing teams, this is essential for sustainable performance.
You can start through small intentional actions:
โข Protecting white space in your diary
โข Building thinking time before decisions
โข Meetings that include reflection
โข Walking conversations
โข Giving teams permission to pause
This is where clarity returns. Where better decisions are made. Where perspective and creativity come back online.
Leadership Space: Common Questions
Q: Why is space important for leaders?
A: Space improves clarity, emotional regulation, strategic thinking, and decision quality.
Q: Is slowing down bad for productivity?
A: No. Intentional space improves long-term performance.
Q: What is reactive leadership?
A: Reactive leadership happens when leaders spend most of their time responding to immediate issues instead of shaping direction.
If this resonates, your team may not need more pressure or tools โ they may need more space. I support organisations in building sustainable leadership, team clarity, and high-performing teams without burnout. Download our brochure to explore how this could look in your organisation.
Are You Leading or Just Reacting?
Do You Crave More Space?
Space to think.
Space to breathe.
I remember working in a busy retail environment filled with constant hustle, back-to-back meetings, and nonstop movement. I carried my laptop and lunch with me so I could type notes and actions on the go. I kept drinks beside me so I would not forget to hydrate. Food was squeezed in between conversations.
People used to say I was โa woman on a mission.โ But honestly, I trained myself to be that way.
I believed being organised and in control was the only way to cope. As part of a Senior Leadership team, you are fielding demands from above while trying to inspire and lead the people around you. The pressure comes from every direction.
When you are in constant hustle mode, something important happens. You stop leading strategically and slip into reactive leadership. You are no longer creating direction. You are coping with what is in front of you. You are firefighting instead of mentoring. Responding instead of inspiring.
What Happens When Leaders Have No Space to Think
That pace followed me into the early years of my own business. And if I am honest, it was not just the environment, it was me.
I have always been an overachiever. Driven. Capable. The person who could handle more. For a long time, that looked like a strength. But it also meant I was the one creating the pressure, always striving, always pushing for the next outcome.
If I was not doing, I felt like I was not being productive. Slowing down felt uncomfortable, almost wrong. Burnout is a whole other story.
What I have had to learn, and keep learning, is how to slow down intentionally. To look backwards and acknowledge progress. To celebrate what worked, and what did not. To separate my worth from constant output.
I have had to actively unlearn those behaviours and separate busyness from value. Now everything I do is intentional. I slow down to speed up. I create space on purpose, not as a luxury, but as a core sustainable leadership practice that supports clarity, better decision-making, and long-term performance.
Why Space Improves Leadership Performance
Sustainable leadership is the ability to lead in a way that protects long-term performance, team wellbeing, and decision quality. It requires intentional space for thinking, reflection, and strategic focus.
Creating space improves focus, emotional regulation, creativity, and the quality of decision-making. For high-performing teams, this is essential for sustainable performance.
You can start through small intentional actions:
โข Protecting white space in your diary
โข Building thinking time before decisions
โข Meetings that include reflection
โข Walking conversations
โข Giving teams permission to pause
This is where clarity returns. Where better decisions are made. Where perspective and creativity come back online.
Leadership Space: Common Questions
Q: Why is space important for leaders?
A: Space improves clarity, emotional regulation, strategic thinking, and decision quality.
Q: Is slowing down bad for productivity?
A: No. Intentional space improves long-term performance.
Q: What is reactive leadership?
A: Reactive leadership happens when leaders spend most of their time responding to immediate issues instead of shaping direction.
If this resonates, your team may not need more pressure or tools โ they may need more space. I support organisations in building sustainable leadership, team clarity, and high-performing teams without burnout. Download our brochure to explore how this could look in your organisation.
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