What is the link between leadership and investment?

Imagine you plant a fruit tree. You invest time, water, and fertilizer. The seasons pass, the tree grows, and eventually bears fruit. But what would happen if you didn’t take care of it? If you forgot to water it, prune it, provide it with the conditions necessary for its growth? You could not hope for an abundant harvest.

Leadership is much the same. Now imagine that you recruit a promising employee, but, caught up in the turbulence of everyday life, you devote neither time nor energy to them. No alignment with their mission, few exchanges, and development left to chance. And when this employee struggles to perform, you become impatient.

Do you realize that you can't expect a return on an investment you didn't make?

What is Leadership-Energy?

Cyrille Sardais, holder of the Pierre-Péladeau Leadership Chair at HEC Montréal, emphasizes:

"Describing leadership as an energy already places it, not as a quality or a result, but rather as a way of entering into a relationship. This energy, driven by an individual without being entirely carried by him, is thrown and caught by one and all, like a balloon."

Leadership thus becomes a flow, a dynamic that inspires, mobilizes and generates real collective momentum.

What is ROI-LE?

Since Leadership-Energy is limited, it is crucial to invest it strategically to maximize results, avoid losses and amplify its impact.

Return On Investment in Leadership-Energy (ROI-LE) is not limited to short-term operational management of human or material resources. It is an approach that consists of deciding how to use Leadership-Energy today to maximize the impact on tomorrow's results.

Investing ROI-LE in the right place

A leader is constantly in demand: meetings, emails, crises, operational follow-ups... In this storm of responsibilities, he must discern the 5% of actions where his intervention is truly transformative.

The key question to ask: “How should I act now to create a unique and lasting impact?”

• Perfecting a report vs. coaching a colleague to find solutions themselves?
• Participating in an unproductive meeting vs. brainstorming with a colleague about improving a process?
• Responding to technical emails vs. organizing a collaborative workshop with another department?

Investing is often a matter of choice and refocusing on what is essential. Where do you choose to put your Leadership-Energy?

Directing Energy

Every action, every decision cost energy. But not all of them generate the same return. Maximizing the ROI-LE requires prioritizing high value-added actions.

For example, rather than managing every small disagreement between employees, a leader could invest in an interactive workshop on collaboration and conflict prevention. This type of initiative equips employees, promotes better communication, and significantly reduces tensions in the long term.

In another organization, a CEO introduced reverse mentoring, where younger employees mentor senior executives on new technology trends. This initiative breaks down silos and promotes two-way learning.

Multiplying Energy

Effective leadership is based on the ability to invest one's energy in the most promising levers. Delegating does not mean disengaging, but rather creating the conditions for Leadership-Energy to spread and multiply within the team. By trusting the skills of his collaborators, a leader transforms his own investment into a multiplier effect.

Consider a marketing director who delegates the design of an advertising campaign to her team while she focuses on strategic negotiations with key influencers. The result: the team gains autonomy, and the director maximizes her impact.

Another example: A manager introduced the concept of the “hackathon” to his team. Through this format, employees address a problem in depth and explore innovative solutions. This dynamic stimulates creativity and constantly renews perspectives.

The message is clear: leaders don’t do everything. They guide, support and use their Leadership-Energy to amplify that of their team.

Recycling Energy

Energy depletion spares no one, not even leaders. To maintain a sustainable pace, it is crucial to integrate moments of recharging.

Some effective practices:

• Meeting-free days: Allow everyone, including the leader, to work without interruption.
• Collective disconnection rituals: one Friday afternoon, every two months, dedicated to non-work activities, such as an outdoor outing or a team yoga session.

These simple actions strengthen individual and collective resilience.

ROI-LE: a Strategic Vision of Leadership

Today's leadership is more than ever a marathon, not a sprint. By optimizing the allocation of one's Leadership Energy, mobilizing that of one's team, and embodying strong values, a leader can transform every effort into lasting results.