3 Min

Time Management ---> Energy Management

Mythbuster: We cannot manage time.

Why? Because time is a unit of measurement. It's like asking us to manage a cubic yard.

What we CAN manage is what we have control over, which is the amount of energy (energy unit) we put towards something WITHIN a given amount of time (time unit).

That means a more accurate concept is Energy Management, not “Time Management.”

Why Energy Matters

Energy isn’t infinite. It can’t be created or destroyed—it can only be transferred or transformed. Each day, we only have a certain number of “energy units” available. Our control lies in deciding where to invest (or spend) those units: physically, mentally, emotionally.

Fun fact: our brains work using electrochemical signals. (It is eerily similar to the electrical work we install in our buildings), but our brains alone use 20% of our body’s energy. That’s why focus, distraction, and mental load hit so hard.

Energy as an Investment (not just spending or wasting energy)

Think of:

• training a new apprentice,

• raising kids,

• or learning a new skill.

At first, these things are energy expensive. But over time, as relationships deepen or knowledge becomes intuitive (neural pathways), the energy cost drops.

Even better: these investments start paying dividends. You gain more energy by inspiring others, motivating your team, and using knowledge more efficiently.

How to Manage Energy Effectively

Before we can prioritize or “invest” energy properly, we must first identify what’s important or valuable:

• for ourselves,

• for the team,

• for the company,

• for the project.

Without that clarity, energy gets wasted on low-value tasks.

Why This Matters for Leadership & Communication

This principle is foundational. Leaders who understand energy management:

• build stronger teams,

• communicate with purpose,

• and create environments where energy investments compound.

We’ll dive deeper into how this ties directly to communication & leadership in the workshops. But for now, simply being aware of this truth sets you up to lead, train, and grow more effectively.