How New Managers Can Manage Their Energy Not Just Their Time

Episode 127 of New Manager Conversations tackles a challenge that rarely gets formal airtime: energy management. Lucas opens with a specific story about a first-time manager at a mid-sized SaaS company who scheduled back-to-back 1-1s all morning, then had nothing left for strategic thinking by 2 PM. He and Luna explore the difference between time-blocking and energy-blocking, drawing on research from the book 'When' by Daniel Pink and real examples like how some managers batch low-cognitive-load tasks (status updates, approvals) in the afternoon while reserving mornings for coaching and feedback. They discuss the concept of decision fatigue in the context of new managers who face 30–50 micro-decisions daily, and why protecting two quiet hours per week for reflection can reduce turnover risk. Luna pushes back on whether this is realistic in a Slack-driven culture, and Lucas offers a concrete tactic: the 'energy audit' — tracking your mood and focus for one week at 90-minute intervals. The episode closes with a forward-looking question about how managers can model sustainable pacing for their teams without seeming less committed. #NewManager #EnergyManagement #TimeManagement #DecisionFatigue #Leadership #FirstTimeManager #TeamCoaching #Productivity #DanielPink #WhenBook #CognitiveLoad #ManagerWellbeing #SlackCulture #EnergyAudit #ReflectionTime #CareerGrowth #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo