Leadership Always Generates Energy Somewhere
Last month, I wrote about the exciting places this work was taking me. This month, the story isn’t the places, it’s the people, because I get to be in conversation with some remarkable ones. I'm currently partnering with Amy at Malibu Pacific to talk about living a life of purpose.
Next, I’ll be in conversation with Meg about building something you can own. And joining Ashlee in an important discussion about women in the workplace. I keep looking around these spaces thinking… how lucky am I to be part of networks like this-it's my dream, surrounded by thoughtful women asking meaningful questions about work, leadership, and the lives we are building.
At the same time, I’ve learned that exciting opportunities also require something from us. A lot from us! Travel, new ideas, fresh collaborations, and the responsibility of building things that don’t exist yet all take energy. I ask myself often: How do I sustain myself so I can keep showing up well in these moments?
Because in leadership, how we show up is the main game. People remember how we treat them. They remember how they feel around us. Our impact isn’t only in what we say or what we accomplish, but in the energy we bring into a room.
One of the tools I return to regularly, and use with leaders and teams, is a simple reflection on affirming and depleting energy. It asks us to name the behaviors that expand our capacity and strengthen the people around us, alongside the patterns that slowly drain our energy when pressure builds.
On the affirming side we might see things like courage, listening, curiosity, and building community. On the depleting side we sometimes notice perfectionism, defensiveness, comparison, or taking on too much.
This month, I’m sharing that exercise with you. My hope is that it gives you a moment to pause and notice what is shaping your leadership right now, and to choose the patterns that bring more life to the work and people around you.
AFFIRMING OR DEPLETING LEADERSHIP
Boost Your Energy, Amplify Your Leadership
Take a moment to reflect on what lifts you and your team up, and what quietly drains you.
LEADERSHIP REFLECTIONS
Lessons from the Journey
Leadership often evolves through the moments that challenge and shape us.
In a recent interview with Bold Journey, Malika reflects on the life experiences and lessons that influenced her perspective on growth, leadership, and impact. It’s a thoughtful look at how personal journeys shape the way leaders show up in the world. If you’re curious about the stories behind leadership development, take a few minutes to read the full conversation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
This Friday: Malibu, this one’s for you!
Join Malika for an evening of connection and conversation at Malibu Pacific Church.
Join Us: March 26 (virtually)
Malika Begin will be part of a dynamic leadership panel exploring what it takes for women to lead and thrive at work today. The conversation will be moderated by Begin Development’s Enneagram expert Ashlee Sikorski and hosted by Sway Leadership.
We’d love to see you there.
Save the Date: April 22
What happens when your professional expertise becomes your business?
This session explores the real story behind leaving corporate life to launch your own business. Drawing on Meg Scheding’s candid reflections on becoming “fractionally feral,” we’ll unpack both the freedom and the hidden work that comes with building a solo practice. Participants will learn what it actually takes to step out of corporate infrastructure, from redefining your professional identity to managing the invisible roles every founder inherits overnight. We’ll discuss practical systems, community, and mindset shifts that help entrepreneurs focus on their expertise while building the support structures that make independence sustainable.
AROUND BEGIN DEVELOPMENT
We asked the team for baby photos and quickly learned two things:
There was a lot happening, hair-wise.
Some personalities haven’t changed much.
Make way to our Instagram to see who’s who.
Leadership always generates energy somewhere. It either creates space for people to grow, or slowly diminishes their capacity.
Affirming leadership is the practice of noticing that difference, and choosing, again and again, the path that builds life in the work.
Thank you for being leaders who believe how we lead shapes who we become.
With gratitude,
Malika Begin
Founder, Begin Development
