Reignite a spark into your Leadership: Simple tools to refresh a stale routine

Even the most passionate leaders hit a wall. The endless demands, complex challenges, and emotional labour of leadership can leave you feeling stale, flat, or depleted. But leadership doesn’t have to be joyless. In fact, reconnecting with what makes you feel alive is essential—not optional—for long-term effectiveness and resilience.

Here are three practical tools to bring enjoyment and happiness back into your leadership role:

1. Reconnect With Purpose

It’s easy to get lost in task lists and targets. Take 15 minutes to reflect on why you started leading in the first place. What values or goals excited you then? What moments have made you proud? Reconnecting with your purpose renews your energy and reorients your focus.

Try this: Write down three moments when you felt most fulfilled as a leader. What themes do they share?

2. Inject Micro-Joy Into Your Day

Leadership can feel heavy. Lighten it by deliberately building in small pleasures—what psychologists call “micro-joys.” This could be walking one-on-one meetings outside, adding something fun or different to team huddles, or taking five minutes to express appreciation to a colleague.

Try this: Schedule one daily action that makes you smile. It only needs to take a minute—but done consistently, it can shift your mood and perspective.

3. Create Space for Curiosity

Feeling stale often signals that you’re in a routine that no longer stretches or surprises you. Give yourself permission to explore, learn, and experiment. Talk to someone outside your usual circle. Pick a leadership podcast. Tinker with a new idea without needing it to be perfect.

Try this: Once a week, block out 30 minutes for “curiosity time.” Use it to read, listen, or simply think.

Final Thought

Joy in leadership isn’t frivolous—it’s fuel. When you feel energised, you lead with greater clarity, connection, and creativity. These simple tools aren’t about overhauling your job. They’re about adding back what makes it yours.