Chapter 18

Dear Diary: Energy Is the Role, Not the Title

02/04/26

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the effects of keeping someone in a role they don’t love.
Not because they’re bad at it.
Not because they’re failing.
But because, day after day, their work doesn’t light them up.
I’ve been that someone. I’ve been successful in all of my roles throughout my career, but subconsciously, I was slowly checking out in real life. I got tasks done. I met deadlines. Nothing was technically wrong. And yet, my days felt heavy. Conversations were shorter. Ideas stopped flowing. There was no pull toward improvement, only a push to get through the day. Even worse, it impacted how I showed up for my family, friends, and myself. Here's the thing, it starts as subtle and easy to brush off……..until it’s not.
“I’m good at it.”
“This is what I do.”
“It works.”
But “it works” isn’t the same as “I’m energized and thriving.”
I remember when awareness turned to acknowledgement. I’m dependable. Smart. Loyal. But every morning felt like ground hog’s day instead of a step forward. My energy didn’t build—it was depleted. And over time, it showed up in ways no performance review could quite capture. Less curiosity. Less ownership. Less joy. And worse of all, resentment.
And then I experienced the opposite. I started using my industry experience to help support others. Not because I knew what was happening at the time, but because I naturally and genuinely want to see others succeed and have a passion for mentoring. I feel fulfilled if I can play a part in teaching someone something new. Leading energized me! Suddenly, my day-to-day didn’t drain me; it fueled me. Even on hard days, there was momentum.
The difference was undeniable. I didn’t just do my job better—it made everything better. Problems got solved faster. Communication felt easier. Creativity multiplied.
That’s when it clicked for me: Energy isn’t a bonus. It’s the job.
Remaining in a misaligned role slowly taxes everyone involved—the individual, the team, the culture, the company. When someone is merely surviving their workday, everyone loses out on what they could be contributing if they were in a role that fit how they think and what excites them. And the truth is, people often remain stuck for understandable reasons. Change feels risky. Training takes time. The short-term disruption feels bigger than the long-term gain, but the real risk is letting someone stay where they slowly disengage. Because when someone is energized by their work, they don’t need to be micromanaged. They don’t need constant motivation. They bring ideas, solutions, and care with them. They raise the bar without trying to. They make growth feel lighter.

Allowing someone to thrive isn’t just kinder—it’s smarter.
I’ve learned that the most important leadership question isn’t: “Can they do this job?” it’s “Does this job bring them energy?” When people are aligned with work that excites them, everyone wins. The individual feels seen. The team gains momentum. And the company benefits from something you can’t fake or force, genuine engagement. The bravest decision isn’t maintaining what works, it’s making space for what could work so much better. And once you see the difference energy makes, it’s impossible to unsee it.

written by: krista rockwell