Ben MortonLeadership Trainer, Coach and Speaker

Focus On Energy Management, Not Time Management

8 Apr 2026 · 3 min

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2:36

In this episode of The Leader's Kitbag, host Ben Morton introduces his concise, walk‑and‑talk podcast format that delivers practical leadership tips in under ten minutes. He challenges the common belief that leaders can manage time, arguing that time passes regardless and the real lever is how we manage our energy and focus. Morton explains his preferred coaching tool, StrengthsScope, and outlines a strengths‑based approach: strengths are not only skills but also sources of energy (e.g., strategic thinking, relationship building, detail orientation). He contrasts these with "non‑strengths," tasks that individuals can perform but find draining, which often lead to procrastination and delayed execution. The episode sets up the premise that by identifying and leveraging energising strengths while managing or delegating draining non‑strengths, leaders can better sustain performance and avoid the inevitable drop of juggling endless responsibilities.

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Hi there, I'm Ben Morton, and welcome to The Leader's Kitbag, the podcast that delivers practical leadership insights in less than 10 minutes. Each episode tackles a real challenge faced by leaders and managers with simple ideas and tools you can take away and apply immediately. And because leadership doesn't happen sitting behind a desk, Many of these episodes are recorded outside whilst I'm walking and thinking. They're informal, unscripted, and straight to the point. So, wherever you are, let's get started and sharpen your leadership skills, one episode at a time! Leadership can sometimes feel like spinning plates or juggling balls in the air. There's always something that needs your attention. And you're constantly shifting focus, trying to keep everything moving. But here's the truth. No one can keep everything in motion indefinitely. Eventually, something will drop. The reality is we can't actually manage time. Time passes regardless of what we do. So instead of trying to manage the the unmanageable, perhaps a better question is this: How well are you managing your energy and focus? Now, one of the key tools I use in my work coaching and mentoring leaders is a tool called StrengthsScope. Now, one of the core ideas with StrengthsScope, or a strengths-based approach to development, is that strengths aren't just the things that we're good at. They're also the things that energise us. These could be things like strategic thinking, relationship building, or even detail orientation. But alongside our areas of strength, we also have areas of non-strength. And similar to our strengths, Our non-strengths are things that we can potentially do, we just don't find them energising. In fact, it's more likely that we find those sorts of tasks draining. And here's what tends to happen. We put off those draining tasks. We delay them. We avoid them. Or we leave them until much later in the day.