⭐WF2 Dementors at work
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YouTube I share a concept that almost made it into Work Fame but got cut in the edit: energy management, and what it really means to add value at work.
I was reflecting on a self-imposed writing retreat to the Gold Coast in February, where I'd printed out my entire manuscript and chunked it into categories. In this episode I explain why this topic didn't survive that cut, even though I still think it matters. It centres on one of the book's core ideas, the contribution spotlight, and the assumption that "value" simply means expertise. Early in my career, as an advisor in a large organisation, I believed my value was all about being right and having a good opinion. What I've since realised is that value is much bigger than content and expertise alone.
I use the Dementors from Harry Potter as a (slightly over-the-top) illustration: the people who drain your energy the moment you meet with them, versus the people you actually look forward to seeing pop up in your calendar. How you show up, and how you make people feel, is nearly as important as how well you do the job, and it plays directly into building your work fame.
I also tell a story from my marketing days at Wicked Campers, where a colleague in sales and I held a daily 2pm dance party to shake off the post-lunch slump, plus the energy management habits I still use today: protecting Monday mornings for deep work, keeping Friday afternoons free for catch-up, time blocking to avoid constant context switching, and limiting back-to-back virtual meetings in favour of in-person ones.
Two takeaways from me this episode: rethink what "adding value" really means beyond your expertise, and pay attention to how you manage your own energy, because both are quietly part of what makes you work famous.
I'd love to hear how you manage your own energy, and who your Dementors are. Get in touch at hello@leannehughes.com or on socials.
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