Running on empty?
I don’t know about you, but many of my clients are currently coming to see me for what seem to be practical needs — to strengthen their political skills, enhance their executive presence, or manage their time more effectively.
And yet, beneath these expressed needs, there’s often something deeper at play: fatigue.
Real Cases
One client tells me he wants to develop his political skills. As I question him, I discover that the real issue lies elsewhere: he has a short fuse and needs to learn patience. He juggles his children’s activities, multiple responsibilities at work, and several areas of expertise. He enjoys pleasing others and seeks recognition — but he takes on too much. The result? He’s exhausted.
Another client tells me she struggles with time management. She says she “can’t see clearly anymore.” I could have limited my work to her time management needs, but I sensed it was deeper than that. She admits she’s demotivated, has trouble concentrating, and feels overwhelmed by competing priorities. She has “no energy these days.” The result? She’s tired — and that fatigue eats away at her ability to act, decide, and move forward.
And then there’s another client who has been living with constant fatigue for ten years. She’s grown used to it, as though it were an invisible companion. Lack of sleep, little physical activity, a diet poorly suited to her body’s needs, accumulated stress — and above all, the sense of running on empty, unable to take even the smallest step toward feeling better.
Coaching Against the Current
In my experience, coaching against the current has never been productive. When your energy is depleted, even the best strategies lose their power. Visibility, networking, ambition — all become secondary. You stop creating and start enduring.
That’s why more and more coaches today are broadening their approach.
They focus on the whole human being — their rhythms, habits, sleep, breath, and energy. Without replacing medical or therapeutic specialists, they adopt a collaborative approach and refer clients to the right experts when needed.
Because before performing, one must first recharge.
The Reality: Fatigue at Work Is No Longer Just a Malaise — It’s a Crisis
Many articles highlight that young people are sleeping less and less. In the business world, we’re also seeing a sharp rise in daytime sleepiness and burnout. These aren’t just “bad days”; it’s a widespread and alarming phenomenon. What if we started recognizing the human behind the role, the title, the employee?
When Fatigue Sets In
Fatigue isn’t just about motivation — it’s your entire system slowing down: your energy, your clarity, your presence. It creates a state that:
• Makes focus, mental clarity, and planning harder to sustain
• Reduces emotional regulation (short temper, low tolerance)
• Undermines authentic leadership — since energy fuels charisma, listening, and presence
• Disrupts work–life balance (and ironically, increases mental load)
• Affects the quality of relationships at work and at home, and the sustainability of effort
In other words, before striving to do better, one must first feel better.
Ignoring fatigue is like trying to light a beacon with a dead battery — the light will eventually fade.
The Workplace as a Lever for Prevention
The workplace isn’t always the cause of fatigue, but it can certainly be part of the solution. By implementing supportive measures, encouraging recovery, and promoting healthy conditions, organizations invest in health, safety, and sustainable performance. Such actions help reduce errors and work accidents, while improving productivity.
A well-rested employee makes for a thriving organization.
As leaders, preventing fatigue isn’t just an act of kindness — it’s a responsibility and a true expression of leadership.
Here are a few ways to monitor and support balance within your team:
• Assess risk factors (workload, schedules, pressure)
• Clarify expectations
• Encourage disconnection and rest
• Foster a healthy, respectful workplace climate
• Promote balanced living — nourishing the body, calming the mind, and recharging energy
And above all: leaders need rest too. A tired leader cannot inspire for long.
Putting Energy Back at the Center
When our foundational energy runs low, it’s not time to add more — it’s time to simplify.
Here are three concrete ways to turn the power back on:
Identify the real source of fatigue — understand what’s truly draining you: mental load, unclear roles, pace, lack of boundaries… and restore what’s depleted.
Reorganize priorities — close energy leaks and realign what truly matters versus what can wait.
Recharge consciously — with healthy habits: rest, breaks, disconnection… or even a Polarity session to revive the vital flow.
We celebrate performance and productivity — yet we often forget the essential ingredient: energy. When fatigue speaks, it’s your system asking for a new rhythm of life. Let’s listen.
Because when humans recharge, everything else starts to flow.
Mylène Grégoire, M.Sc., BPsy, CRHA, PCC, FQM, is President, Coach, Mentor, and Polarity Practitioner at Mymosa &CO Conseil Inc. She is also the author of four books, including three bestsellers, a keynote speaker, and the founder of two online training programs: Brillez au boulot (approved by the Ordre des CRHA) and From Gut to Success.
mymosa.co