Taking Control of Time and Energy

Penny Izlakar

Part 7 – Taking Control of Time and Energy 

Early in my leadership career, I thought good leaders had to be everywhere at once. I saw a blank space in my calendar as a lack of work. Filling it with meetings, being always available, and responding instantly to requests seemed like the right approach. I was busy, but not effective. I often felt drained and too reactive to think strategically. My team sensed when I was scattered or disengaged. 

During crunch times, back-to-back meetings still occur, and I have to reset my calendar on a monthly basis. It's easy to say yes to every invitation, but that can lead to overload and stress, not always justified. 

It took some reflection, but I realized leadership isn’t about being busy; it’s about being purposeful. How you spend your time—and how you protect it—says more about your priorities than any mission statement ever could. After reflecting, I realized leadership isn’t about being busy; it’s about being purposeful. How you spend and protect your time reveals your true priorities more effectively than any mission statement. However, if you intentionally allocate time for high-value work, your priorities become clear—not just to you, but to your team as well. You will be less likely to have to reschedule meetings due to double, triple, and even quadruple meeting invites at the same time. 

Strategies I’ve Used to Manage My Time

I realized that extending my day with more work, whether mornings or evenings, wasn’t sustainable. While it’s easy to fall back into old habits when work gets busy, I’m committed to protecting my focus, energy, and priorities. Here’s my main strategy, along with new ones I plan to try after reflecting on this topic.

My go-to strategy - Time-Blocking

I block chunks of my calendar for deep work, strategic thinking, or focused team development at the beginning of each year as recurring meetings. These blocks are generally non-negotiable—they’re appointments with me. When I protect these times, I signal to my team and me what matters and create space for thoughtful work.  I do need to be flexible if an urgent request comes in that I need to fulfill, but the goal is not to make those requests frequent.

Work-in-progress strategy - No-Meeting Zones

I’ve learned to create zones in my calendar where meetings aren’t allowed. These windows give me uninterrupted focus time, but they also send a message: deep work is valued here. I’m great at carving out the time in my calendar but not great at holding firm on letting meetings override the time.

Work-in-progress strategy - Energy Audits

Managing time means paying attention to energy, not just hours. I’m most productive in the mornings and need to schedule my most complex tasks then. I plan to regularly review which tasks are most draining and determine if they can be delegated, postponed, or simplified to reduce their impact. This focus on managing energy, as much as minutes, will boost my effectiveness and resilience.

Protecting Time for Strategic Thinking 

The most impactful leaders consistently carve out time to step back from their day-to-day responsibilities. That space allows you to: 

• Step away from urgent tasks to focus on what truly matters. 

• Anticipate challenges before they become crises. 

• Develop ideas and solutions that move the team and organization forward. 

Modeling Healthy Boundaries for Your Team

Taking control of your time isn’t just good for you—it sets an example for your team. When they see you protecting focus time, saying no to unnecessary meetings, and balancing energy wisely, it gives them permission to take control of their time. Taking control of your time helps you and sets an example. Taking small steps to manage your time can have a significant impact, not just on you, but also on your team. When they see you prioritizing your time for your most important tasks, it sends a clear message: focus and thoughtful work are valued here.

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t about filling every hour; it’s about making each hour count. Taking control of your time creates space for strategic thinking, supporting your team, and meaningful impact.

To sum up, here are the three key takeaways from this post: 

1. Your calendar reflects your priorities—protect time for what matters most. 

2. Time-blocking, no-meeting zones, and energy audits help you manage both time and focus. 

3. Modeling healthy boundaries shows your team that strategic thinking and well-being are valued.