How Creating Space Transforms You into a More Effective Leader
Many high-performing leaders feel compelled to involve themselves in every decision, meeting, and project. However, when your day is packed with back-to-back commitments, it restricts your ability to think strategically, innovate, and empower your team.
As a mindfulness coach, I’ve worked with many founders and senior managers who find it challenging to take a step back. One of my clients, a rapidly growing startup founder, was constantly immersed in back-to-back meetings, firefighting issues, and responding to emails late into the night. Despite his long hours, he never felt disconnected from his vision; however, he was overwhelmed by daily demands and his sense of responsibility.
During our coaching sessions, I guided him through mindfulness exercises, helping him pause and reflect on his week. We identified areas where he could step back and trust his team, reducing unnecessary involvement in meetings and creating space for deeper thinking.
By intentionally adding whitespace to his calendar, my client started to see patterns in his business challenges more clearly. He made better decisions and encouraged his leadership team to take ownership. Over time, he realized that his best ideas emerged not in the chaos of back-to-back tasks but during moments of quiet reflection.
This shift reduced his stress and helped him become a more strategic and wise leader.
Why Energy Management is Important for Leadership
Studies indicate that high-performing leaders don’t fill every minute of their day with tasks; instead, they make time for thinking, reflecting, and making better decisions. Neuroscientific research highlights that our brains need downtime to form creative connections, tackle complex problems, and process information effectively.¹
Yet, many leaders—founders, senior managers, or team leaders—find it challenging to step back. The belief that being constantly involved equals effectiveness often leads to burnout, reduced clarity, and decision fatigue.
How Making Space Enhances Your Leadership Skills
Here’s what happens when you intentionally create space in your schedule:
🔹 You gain clarity when tackling complex problems. When your mind isn’t overwhelmed, you can identify patterns, foresee challenges, and make more intentional decisions.
🔹 You empower your team by stepping back. Allowing others to lead in some meetings demonstrates your trust in their abilities and shows confidence in them.
🔹 You operate with long-term vision, not just urgency. Leaders who pause to reflect don’t just react to the day-to-day—they set direction, align priorities, and make choices that drive sustainable success.
How Can Leaders Slow Down and Create More Space?
Here are six ideas for you to try:
1. Start Your Day Without a Screen
Instead of jumping straight into emails or Slack, take 10–15 minutes to plan your priorities, reflect, or just sit with your thoughts.
2. Schedule White Space on Your Calendar
Block off time between meetings or deep work sessions to reset, process ideas, and avoid back-to-back overload.
3. Set Clear Boundaries for Deep Work
Choose specific times in your day to focus uninterrupted. Turn off notifications and let your team know you’re unavailable during these blocks.
4. Take Short Breaks for Movement or Reflection
A five-minute walk, a few deep breaths, or a quick journal entry can help you gain mental clarity and refocus.
5. End Your Day with an Energy Audit
Before logging off, reflect on where your energy went. Were you intentional? What would you adjust tomorrow?
6. Partner with a Mindfulness Leadership Coach
Coaching provides a structured space for reflection, self-awareness, and impactful intentional leadership. I use guided meditation practices in my coaching sessions, enabling my clients to tap into their higher wisdom. This practice enhances focus and decision-making and builds a habit of integrating mindful moments for sustained clarity and resilience.
Creating space isn’t about doing less—it’s about carving out time to re-calibrate, restore, renew, refresh, and discover what matters most, and have this clarity to lead with a more significant impact.
Where in your day can you create more space to be a better leader?
Explore more strategies on our YouTube channel or book a coaching session to take the next step in your leadership journey.
¹ Reference: "The Neuroscience of Rest and Creativity," Harvard Business Review, 2021.
Samantha Amit – Leadership Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner
Samantha helps managers be more present, more confident and to focus on what and who is important, to excel and thrive at work and life.
Inspiring managers to grow and together make a global impact.
Transforming people and companies for the future.
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