There’s something you can feel when a leader walks into the room, or shows up on your screen. Some carry a kind of energy that draws people in. They’re focused, calm, and present. Others? You can almost see the exhaustion in their shoulders before the meeting even begins.
That difference, the one between connection and burnout, is what I call vitality.
Vitality isn’t about being busy, loud, or relentlessly positive. It’s about having enough energy, clarity, and emotional steadiness to lead well. It’s the foundation that allows a leader to think clearly, stay grounded, and show up for others even when things get hard.
I like to think of vitality as the fuel behind leadership. Physical vitality gives you the energy to be present. Cognitive vitality keeps your thinking sharp and focused. Emotional vitality helps you handle conflict, feedback, and pressure without losing your composure.
When those three pieces are balanced, you can sustain high performance without burning yourself or your team out, and that’s when leadership becomes contagious.
Years ago, I worked with an organization that had a very detailed performance management system. Too detailed! Leaders were expected to fill out sixteen pages for every employee. Sixteen.
They dreaded it. And honestly, who could blame them? The process was so complex and exhausting that most leaders avoided it altogether. The system was meant to help set goals and targets that employees could work towards. It was supposed to drive engagement, but ultimately, because of its design, it ended up killing it.
When I came in, we started by simplifying everything, fewer forms, more conversations was my goal. I knew that what would really impact the culture wasn’t the paperwork; it was the stories.
We started asking leaders to share examples of when their team members had done great work, or when a tough conversation led to growth. Those stories made the performance discussions real. They created connection. They gave the process meaning.Leaders started to see that feedback wasn’t a document they had to file, it was a chance to build energy on their teams.
That’s the power of vitality. When leadership systems fuel energy instead of draining it, people don’t just comply, they contribute.
We often think of storytelling as something “extra,” a nice touch for speeches or team meetings. But in truth, it’s one of the most powerful tools a leader has to protect and renew vitality.
Here’s why:
Stories give context. They turn data and directives into something people can care about.
Stories spark connection. They remind teams that they’re not just completing tasks, they’re part of something that matters.
And stories restore energy. When people hear a story they can relate to, it cuts through the noise and reconnects them to purpose, the very thing that keeps them engaged when times get hard. We then share those stories with others and the stories begin to gain traction and momentum across our organization.
When leaders use storytelling intentionally, it doesn’t just make communication better. It makes energy sustainable. It keeps the human side of leadership alive.
Leaders often think their job is to manage time, but what they’re really managing is energy. A calendar full of meetings doesn’t mean much if the people involved are running on empty.
The most effective leaders I’ve worked with understand this. They don’t just ask, “What needs to get done?” They also ask, “How am I showing up while I do it?”
Because when you lead with vitality, people feel it. You become the calm in the chaos. You model balance, curiosity, and trust. You tell stories that help people understand not just what to do, but why it matters.
And that’s what makes leadership last.
As you wrap up reading this blog I want to encourage you to take a moment to think about your own vitality. Are you managing your time or your energy? Do you end the day drained, or fulfilled? The answer often depends on how connected you are to the story behind your work.
If this idea resonates with you, we would love to help you explore how storytelling can energize your team and transform your leadership culture. Download our free eBook ‘Mistakes or Milestones’ for practical stories that show how great leaders turn missteps into growth, and book a discovery call to explore how your organization can build vitality-driven leadership programs that last.
