In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Cook from Cisco to talk about his executive coaching journey and the real shifts he made along the way. Jonathan came into the process moving at a constant 100-miles-an-hour pace, brilliant, intense, and always ready to jump in with full force. Through our work together, he learned how to soften some of those rough edges, recognize when speed was serving him and when it wasn’t, and choose his leadership approach with more intention. As he puts it, not every situation calls for the same level of intensity; sometimes what’s needed is a lighter, more precise touch. It was a privilege to watch him grow into a more balanced, thoughtful, and effective leader, and I’m excited to share that story here.

In this episode, I’m doing something a little different. Over the past few months, a lot of you have sent in great questions, thoughtful, honest questions about the real challenges of leading and working with others.

Things like: how do I stay calm when work gets stressful? How do I set boundaries without looking disengaged? How do I adapt my communication style to different personalities? What do I do when someone on the team undermines others? How can I lead effectively if I don’t have formal authority? And how do I navigate office politics without losing my integrity?

They’re all important, and I’ve taken time to unpack each one in a meaningful way, with ideas and tools that I hope will help you show up as a stronger, impactful leader.

In this episode, I talk about the ten biggest drains on our energy at work, and more importantly, what we can do about them.

From toxic coworkers who sap morale, to noisy environments that make it hard to focus, to ergonomic setups that leave us tired and sore, these small but constant frictions add up. We also face inbox overload, endless meetings, unclear priorities, and the creeping burnout that comes from trying to do it all.

But here’s the good news: every one of these drains has a practical solution. Setting boundaries with difficult colleagues. Using noise-cancelling strategies. Adjusting your workstation for comfort and posture. Streamlining your email. Building better meeting habits. Clarifying what actually matters day-to-day.

The truth is, you don’t need a radical change to reclaim your energy, you need a series of small, intentional shifts. That’s what we dive into today: how to plug the leaks, one by one, and create the conditions for focus, flow, and sustainable energy at work.