Wednesday Wisdom

Tavia Robinson
Mar 11
2 min read

Wednesday’s Wisdom | Leadership Reflection

High performers rarely struggle with commitment.

The real challenge is knowing when commitment quietly turns into compulsion.

One of the reflections I return to each morning comes from Iyanla Vanzant:

“I open my heart and mind to be aware the energy I give to what I do determines if my actions are healthy or unhealthy.”

That line stops me every time.

Because in leadership, energy is contagious.

The energy you bring into conversations, decisions, conflict, and strategy doesn’t just shape outcomes — it shapes culture.

Many of the executives and teams I partner with are incredibly driven. They set ambitious goals, hold high standards, and work tirelessly to deliver results.

But even the most successful leaders can unknowingly cross an invisible line:

• Healthy discipline → relentless pressure

• Purpose-driven goals → fixation or obsession

• Productive focus → compulsive overwork

Research in behavioral psychology shows that when goals become obsessive rather than values-driven, they often increase stress, cognitive fatigue, and emotional depletion — even when performance metrics look strong on the outside.

Sustainable high performance requires something different.

It requires awareness of the energy driving the work.

Pause for a moment.

Take a slow breath in…

Exhale fully…

Now consider:

• What energy are you bringing into your work this week?

• Where might healthy ambition be drifting toward strain or overexertion?

• What signals tell you that you—or someone on your team—may be pushing too hard?

• What would shift if you replaced force with alignment?

What would change if we believed this:

Strain, frustration, anxiety, obsession, and fear are often signals that we are pushing harder than sustainable excellence requires.