Neuroscience and Energy Freedom: The Leader’s Path
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
by Dr. Denise A. Trudeau Poskas
Modern leadership is often associated with constant decision-making, full calendars, and relentless productivity. But neuroscience tells us that the most effective leaders aren't the ones who do the most; they’re the ones who are aligned, focused, and energized.
When we operate from a place of alignment and purpose, the brain’s higher functions, located in the prefrontal cortex, can thrive. This is where strategy, creativity, and conscious decision-making reside. But when we’re drained, distracted, or reactive, we unknowingly begin making decisions from the amygdala, leading to decisions making in terms of fight, flight, and short-term thinking.
So how can leaders leverage brain science to make better decisions and build more freedom into their work and lives?
Reconnecting with Purpose
Energy Freedom begins with alignment. Every entrepreneur works at the intersection of leadership, artistry and operations:
The leader stays focused on long-term goals and values.
The artist innovates and infuses creativity into everyday decisions.
The operator ensures execution happens smoothly and effectively.
To stay centered in these roles, leaders must regularly assess how they’re spending their time and whether that time reflects their purpose and zone of expertise. It's vital that entrepreneurs not continuously take on the responsibilities of all three positions.
Audit Your Time and Energy Freedom
Start with an Ask/Request Audit. Categorize your tasks into four quadrants based on cost and impact. Adapted from the Eisenhower Matrix, as popularized in Covey (1989), the Low-Cost / High-Impact Matrix repurposes the importance–urgency axis into a cost–impact framework to aid strategic decision-making:
Low Cost / High Impact – Prioritize these. These are your quick wins.
High Cost / High Impact – Schedule these quarterly; they’re worth the energy.
Low Impact / High Cost – Eliminate or delegate. They drain more than they give.
Low Cost / Low Impact – Delegate or batch if necessary, but don't let them clutter your day.
Once you’ve done this audit, a Return on Energy (ROE) Audit is next. Ask:
What activities drained me?
What gave me energy?
Is there a pattern I can shift?
When energy freedom is low, creativity and strategy disappear. ROE is a direct measure of whether you're working in your best brain space or just surviving the day.
The Flow Audit
Use BEL's very own Flow Audit to identify where your time’s leaking and take back control of your energy, focus, and results. Click here to Download our Flow Audit.
Delegate with Intention
True leadership is not about doing everything. It's about knowing what not to do. Delegation isn't just handing something off; it’s a strategic decision. Use these filters before you delegate tasks to your team and colleagues:
Do they have the personality for it?
Do they have passion for this task?
Have I provided enough context?
Write out the task in detail using the 5 W’s so it is clear what you are delegating:
Who is doing it?
What exactly is being done?
Where is it happening (platform, system, location)?
What's the extent?
What's the context of the task?
Clear delegation protects your energy and empowers your team.
Batch Tasks to Preserve Focus
Every time you switch tasks, your brain burns energy. Research shows that task-switching can drain up to 20% brain glucose per hour (Rubinstein, et al., 2001). Combat this by grouping similar tasks:
Creative Tasks: writing, brainstorming, planning
Decision Tasks: strategic meetings, financial reviews
Communication Tasks: emails, check-ins, reporting
By batching, you protect your energy freedom. deep focus and reduce the cognitive load.
The Energy Filter: A Quick Check-In
Before repeating an activity, run it through a simple, 3 question filter:
Was this task expansive or contractive?
Did this task cost you more energy or time than it was worth?
Would I willingly complete this task again?
If the answer is “no” to all three, it’s time to either delete, delegate, or reschedule it for another time or person.
Build in Time for Recovery
Leadership isn’t sustainable without rest. Block out purposeful time off each quarter, not just for vacation, but for reflection and renewal. It’s important during these breaks to not think about your work or business. These breaks allow your nervous system to reset and your creative brain to reboot.
Final Thoughts
Neuroscience offers us a blueprint: when we operate in alignment with our brain’s strengths and honor our energy, we make better decisions, communicate more clearly, and lead with greater freedom.
Ask yourself:
Where in your schedule could you create more space?
What priorities truly matter to your role as a leader?
How can your business model better reflect your energy and purpose?
Leadership doesn’t have to mean burnout. With intention and self-awareness, it can mean more clarity, more creativity and ultimately more freedom.
Sources:
Covey, S. R. (1989)
Title: The seven habits of highly effective people: restoring the character ethic. Simon and Schuster.
Rubinstein, J. S., Meyer, D. E., & Evans, J. E. (2001). Executive control of cognitive processes in task switching, Psychological Bulletin, 127(1), 63–82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.127.1.63
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Copyright © 2025 Dr. Denise A. Trudeau Poskas of Blue Egg Leadership, LLC. All rights reserved.
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