energy on DND
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN… dunna na... dunna na na na... dunna na na ...dunna na na na!!
💥 Q4 is here and I’m ready to end this year with a bang. 💥
We’ve got the Safe Space Summit in less than 20 days.
Scoop your ticket now or forever miss out on what is shaping up to be THE EVENT OF THE YEAR! The agenda is FIRE featuring sessions on:
🔥 Leadership in wild times
🔥 HR in the time of change
🔥 The CEO/HR relationship
🔥 Learning environments that scale performance
🔥 AI use cases
Walk away with real answers to your toughest challenges and maybe a new HR bestie or two.
👻 HR Therapy is just as HAUNTING as the current job market. This month it’s The Haunted House of Hiring. We’re talking about the current job market, how to find qualified candidates, the struggle of startups and how organizations can actually stand out. Come hang?
🎃 HR Horror Stories is back… submit your spookiest, more outrageous HR horror story you got! Past submissions include a haunted office, inappropriate behaviors and creepy coworkers. And rest assured, you’ll get to read these stories yourself. Insert spooky children's laughter here a la Are You Afraid of The Dark.
Now, onto today another banger send on energy and all that is Q4.
SPONSORED BY ESKILLCopy anchor linkCopied
Hiring fraud isn’t just “oh, they fudged their resume” anymore.
It’s gotten WAY messier: proxy interviewers, test-taker impersonators, even deepfakes lip-syncing their way through Zoom calls! 👀
And yes, some candidates are basically outsourcing the entire hiring process with AI-written resumes, AI-prompted interviews...AI everything.
So what’s an HR or recruiting team supposed to do?!
eSkill is breaking it down in their new article: from anti-cheat tech and AI proctoring to why some companies are dragging us back to in-person interviews.
Read the full breakdown for eSkill’s take on fair and equitable hiring!
CULTURE
The energy game:Copy anchor linkCopied
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^^ me by the end of Q4.
⚡ If there’s one thing we all know but don’t really talk about, it’s this: work is an energy game.
Some things drain us, some things fuel us, and some things require us to manage carefully just to stay steady.
So in Q4, I’m talking about the things that boost our energy, drain our energy, and how we can actually manage it better through lenses that shape all of it: culture & people, leadership, systems, and our own personal factors.
Because energy isn’t just about feeling tired or motivated. It’s directly tied to engagement, job satisfaction, creativity, and overall happiness at work.
When energy is high, we collaborate more, think bigger, and actually enjoy what we do. The dream!
When it’s low, performance drops, burnout rises, and even the smallest tasks feel impossible. The actual reality some days…
This quarter is about understanding what’s fueling (or depleting) that energy so we can start designing work that gives more than it takes.
The 3 buckets:Copy anchor linkCopied
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Every topic this quarter will fall into 3 buckets:
- Drains
- Boosts
- Management
Let’s look at how I’m defining each and get a sense of where the quarter is going!
⬇️ 1. Energy Drains:
Ever wonder why you’re at your wits’ end by Wednesday or why another meeting on your calendar feels like such a burden? Because, same. Truthfully, it could be an energy drain.
We’re surrounded by energy drain culprits: endless meetings that should’ve been a Slack message, micromanagement that kills momentum, unclear goals, clunky and outdated systems, toxic coworkers, and constant context-switching. These things quietly chip away at our patience, creativity, and focus until we’re running on fumes.
The scary part? Most of us get so used to it that running on empty starts to feel normal.
This quarter, I’ll be digging into some of the biggest drains I see everywhere:
❌ Context shifting
❌ Toxic coworkers
❌ Constant change
Because spoiler alert: these drains are also zapping your employee engagement, productivity and overall satisfaction, not just yours!!
⬆️ 2. Energy Boosts:
If energy drains deplete the tank, then energy boosts are there to refill.
These are the moments that remind us work can actually feel good. SHOCKER!! Recognition for a job well done, autonomy to make decisions without layers of approvals, feeling like you belong on your team., or leaders who communicate clearly and trust their people.
These are the fuel sources that spark engagement, satisfaction, and even joy at work. Life is too short to be miserable at work y’all! We tend to underestimate these factors because they seem small, but they’re often the biggest reason people stay, grow, and care.
This quarter I’ll touch on a few things that boosts energy:
✅ Recognition
✅ Community and belonging
✅ Leaders
🔄 3. Energy Management:
This is where the real work happens…
Managing energy isn’t about doing less, it’s about being intentional with what gets your attention.
It's setting boundaries that protect your time, taking recovery seriously, and pacing yourself through the chaos instead of doing too much. It’s learning to pause, to recharge, to design your days so your energy isn’t swinging wildly between “on fire” and “completely fried.” All things that I wish I had more time to do! And therein lies the problem.
I’ll be diving into the heart of energy management this quarter:
✅ Boundaries
✅ Saying no
✅ The role of PTO
It all comes down to having a better time at work so that everyone can do great work.
Homework: The energy audit Copy anchor linkCopied
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Before we talk about fixes this quarter, you’ve got to know what you’re working with.
So I have HOMEWORK for you!!! This week, I need you to do a quick energy audit, for yourself and your org.
4 steps, 1 final action. You game?
Step 1: Identify Your Drains
Grab a piece of paper (or your Notes app if you’re like me) and list the top 3 things that consistently leave you feeling tapped out.
Think: meetings that drag, lack of appreciation, leaders who don’t listen, constant context-switching, unclear goals, toxic people, or just too much noise.
Ask yourself:
- When do I feel my energy dip the fastest during the day and what’s happening right before that?
- Which parts of my job feel like busywork instead of creating real impact?
- Who or what consistently leaves me feeling depleted after interacting?
- What do I avoid because I know it’s going to take more energy than it’s worth?
- Are these drains coming from me (habits, mindset), my environment (tools, processes), or leadership (expectations, culture)?
Step 2: Find Your Boosts
List 3 things that genuinely energize you at work.
Think: A leader who has your back, recognition, belonging, clear communication, autonomy, whatever gives you momentum.
Then reflect:
- What moments make me feel energized, proud, or in flow state?
- How often do these happen? Are they predictable or accidental?
- Where does my organization intentionally create energy (through culture, leadership, or systems), and where does it rely on luck?
- Am I giving my team the same kind of boosts I need myself?
Step 3: Check Your Management Habits
Audit how you manage (or protect) your energy:
- When was the last time you fully unplugged?
- How often do you say “yes” when you mean “no”?
- What boundaries would make your work (and your team’s) more sustainable?
Step 4: Zoom Out to the Org Level
Look at your organization through this same lens:
- Where are company-wide drains showing up (meetings, tools, leadership behaviors)?
- What structural boosts exist (recognition programs, manager development, community)?
- How well do we support rest and recovery like PTO, flexibility, true downtime?
⭐ One action to take:
Write down one small change you could make this month to protect or rebuild energy for yourself, your team, or even your whole org.
You can’t fix what you don’t know is broke! So this homework session should have clearly outlined a few areas of opportunity to tackle.
And if you need more inspo, that’s what this whole quarter is about!
I guarantee if you’re feeling it, SO ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES.
What’s next:Copy anchor linkCopied
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Next week I’m diving into one of the biggest (and most underestimated) energy drains at work…context switching.
You know, that constant bouncing between Slack, meetings, emails, and half-finished projects that leaves you wondering where the day went at 5 p.m.
I’ll unpack why it’s so draining, how it impacts focus and satisfaction, and what to do about it!
Until then, may your fall mornings be crisp and your coffee extra juicy and seasonal.
(HUMAN) RESOURCES
- Tactics for job seekers
- American women are leaving the job force
- Job report snapshot
- What ADP’s private payroll report shows
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
- 📚 What I’m reading: Alchemised by SenLinYu. I was a late bloomer when it comes to fanfiction, not reading my first one until December of last year. Since then I’ve fallen deeply into this world. Specifically when it comes to fanfic I’m reading Harry Potter / Dramione. Before we go any further, do not yuck my yum. Fanfic is incredible and I will hear zero criticism. Let people love what they love!!!! Anyways, the first fanfic I read was Manacled. IYKYK. This past year many fanfics have been taken down because the authors got traditional book deals where they have to rework the stories to remove the Harry Potter IP. Manacled was adapted into Alchemised. New characters, similar themes but still INCREDIBLE writing from SenLinYu. Anyways, if you’re a fellow fanfic lover this is safe space for you. <3
- 📺 What I’m watching: Love is Blind. Honestly, is this the worst season yet??? I said that about DC and MN but I think Denver has both of those cities beat because WTF IS GOING ON??
- 😵💫 What I’m obsessing over: fresh fall outfits. It’s getting a lil chilly here so it's time to break out the cute sweaters and comfy sweats. I looooove fall outfits and getting dressed.
SONG OF THE WEEK
🎧 Anyways, I Love You - Better, Wild Rivers & Allen Stone Copy anchor linkCopied
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Sometimes you get lucky and a band you love your best friend also loves.
Sometimes you get REALLY lucky and said band collaborates with another one of your favorite artists.
Wild River is that for me.
This collab with Allen Stone is everything. I’ve loved Allen Stone for sooo long.
If you are unaware of Allen Stone - you must watch him performing Unaware and then circle back to me. Because the first time I watched this video, I had chills. The 4-min mark of this video is all I'll say. My jaw was on the floor.
So clear your cal and get ready to discover your next 2 favorite artists. You’ll thank me later. <3
That's all for this week! I hope you enjoyed this, please let me know what you think and what other topics you'd love for me to cover. I'm allll ears.
Reminder: Take care of yourself and know that I support you.
