Imagine stepping into your office, feeling sharp, energised, and ready to tackle the day—not just for yourself, but for your team too. That’s the power of leadership vitality, a topic Jelena Roborgh brought to life during this week’s Goodmorning BSN! webinar, hosted by the Impact Centre for Great Leadership at Business School Netherlands. Our global audience tuned in from Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and South Africa—and left inspired by Jelena’s down-to-earth insights on why vitality isn’t just a buzzword, but a cornerstone of effective leadership.
Energetic leaders, productive teams: Why vitality makes the difference
Jelena Roborgh nutritionist with a Master’s from Germany, kicked things off with a simple truth: leaders set the tone.
If a leader’s exhausted or burned out, it doesn’t just tank their own performance—it drags down the team’s motivation too.
She backed this up with a stat from the Harvard Business Review: tiredness slashes productivity by 40%. On the flip side, leaders with high vitality are 76% more productive, inspiring their teams to perform better. I’ve seen this firsthand—when I’m running on empty, my emails get sloppy, and my energy fizzles. But when I’m on top of my game, it’s contagious.
The key to thriving leadership: Energy, Resilience, Nutrition
So, what’s the secret sauce? Jelena pointed to three big hitters: energy management, resilience, and nutrition. Energy, she explained, is a leader’s most valuable resource—think of it as the fuel in your tank. Without it, even the best strategies stall. She shared a practical gem: work in focused bursts (an hour or so), then take a quick movement break. It’s not about grinding harder; it’s about working smarter. I’m already picturing a brisk walk around the block between Zoom calls—recharging my brain and my mood.
Building resilience thriving under pressure
Resilience came next, and Jelena didn’t sugarcoat it: stress is unavoidable, but how we bounce back matters.
It’s about adapting, recovering, and staying strong.
Citing a 2022 MIT Sloan Management Review finding that leaders who handle stress well are 40% more effective. Chronic stress, though? That’s the villain—pumping out cortisol, clouding our decisions, and leaving us emotionally overloaded. Her tip? Build resilience daily with small habits, like deep breathing (she swears by the 4-4-8 technique). I’ll admit, I’m tempted to try it next time deadlines pile up.
Fuel for focus nutrition’s role in leadership performance
Then there’s nutrition—Jelena’s wheelhouse. She warned:
Skipping meals or eating junk deprives your brain of fuel.
A breakfast skip might leave you sluggish by 10 AM, while a fast-food lunch spikes your energy only to crash it later. Her fix? Eat every 3-4 hours—structured, balanced meals with proteins, complex carbs (think whole grain bread, not chocolate), and good fats. It keeps your blood sugar steady, banishing brain fog and boosting focus. She even tossed in a pro tip: start your day with a high-protein breakfast to dodge that afternoon slump. I’m sold—maybe eggs and oats will replace my rushed coffee tomorrow.
Leading by example small steps big impact
What struck me most was Jelena’s personal touch. She’s not just preaching from a textbook—she’s lived this, guiding clients through burnout and health challenges at her Nutrition Hub. Her passion for leadership vitality shone through, especially when she urged us to “start today” with small changes. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. And as Lawrence Ogungbemi reflected afterward it ties back to mental health and leading by example—because our teams mirror our energy.
Take part in our Goodmorning BSN!
Join the discussion every Tuesday morning at our weekly global webinar Goodmorning BSN! at 08:15 am (CET).
If you would like to replay other webinars, check out our Goodmorning BSN! YouTube Channel.
