Energy in a Time of Change

One of the most valuable discussions at our recent PT Day centred on a topic I believe every business owner, leader and team member is feeling right now: energy. The energy we bring to our work and our businesses as well as the energy we need to keep showing up well for our people, clients and communities in an increasingly complex world.

Change has always been part of business and life, but it is hard to ignore that the amount of change facing businesses today feels greater than at any point in recent memory. Research from McKinsey supports this, reporting that the average employee now experiences ten planned change initiatives each year, five times more than a decade ago. For many business owners, the challenge is not simply that change exists, but that multiple significant changes are arriving at the same time.

Some of that change is chosen. It may be the decision to invest in technology, recruit new people or pursue a growth opportunity. That type of change can bring optimism and momentum. Other change is unchosen, such as government budget announcements, rising costs or labour shortages. These changes can feel more disruptive because they are often imposed on us rather than planned by us. In both cases, the way we respond has a direct impact on our outlook, resilience and success.

This is something we see regularly at PT working alongside clients through periods of opportunity and uncertainty, and one lesson consistently stands out. The businesses that adapt most successfully are not necessarily those that avoid change, but those that are deliberate about where they direct their energy.

In the current business climate, effective leadership starts with acknowledging what has changed, understanding its impact and focusing attention on practical steps forward. Practically that might mean reviewing pricing, strengthening customer relationships, improving efficiency, investing in people or looking for opportunities that others may miss. None of these actions remove the uncertainty, but they help turn energy into progress.

That is why energy matters. It shapes how we respond to uncertainty, how we lead our teams and how we support our clients. It can be the difference between seeing change as a roadblock or recognising it as a prompt to think differently. Most importantly, energy is contagious. The way leaders show up each day often influences the confidence, focus and resilience of those around them.

Our recent PT Summit Club in August was a timely opportunity to pause and ask where our energy is being spent. Are we giving too much attention to the things we cannot control, or are we directing it towards the decisions, relationships and opportunities that can move us forward? As business owners we should use this period of change as a prompt for deliberate action: reset our focus, have the important conversations and make sure our energy is being invested where it can make the greatest difference.