What introverted leaders said about how they Manage their Energy

• “Listening to and being aware of how I am feeling and behaving. I try to counter the impact of the introversion on me and the situation by using visual imagery.”
  
  
• “I pace my diary carefully. I need a whole day of time to myself every week in order to be able to successfully carry out my leadership role.”
  
  
• “Diary management by a good PA. Putting in spaces that look like meetings but allow me some ‘my time’.”
  
  
• “I hold as few meetings as possible and keep them short and to purpose.”
  
  
• “Allowing myself time alone following extrovert time.”
  
  
• “I made sure that I could ‘escape’ frequently during the day, and often went to a coffee shop in the hospital where it was relatively quiet. I found this better than trying to take this down-time in my office, in that people would often want to see me if I stayed in my office. I made sure that I got a good lunch break each day, and would often go for a walk or go to the local gym.”
  
  
• “I enjoy swimming, trampolining, dancing, singing along to music in the car - I can do them ‘on my own’ and disappear inside my head. These are better ways for me to relax than, for example, playing tennis which requires me to make a social effort as well.”
  
  
• “I have worked hard to reduce travel.”
  
  
• “Working at home more, rather than going in to the noisy, open plan office where I'm based. I make sure I go there periodically to not be ‘cut off’ completely - but I now have a much better balance. If I am in the office, booking meeting rooms to do ‘quiet’ work, or to hold telephone conversations.”
  
  
• “At various times I have worked full-time but I believe I am more effective and better value for money for the organisation if I work parttime. This gives me more time for reflection so I have more energy and focus at work rather than being driven by my diary and in-tray.”