EP206: The Power of the Pause - Creating Space as a Leader
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(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email to angie@angie-robinson.com.
In Episode 205, we focused on the look back: reflecting on how the year went so we can decide what we want to carry forward, what we don’t, and what lessons we learned. And these concepts don’t have to apply only to a calendar year—it just makes sense right now. You can use these ideas for any timeline or initiative.
Not the goals yet
After reflection, your brain might want to jump straight into the go-forward: “What do I want to accomplish next?”
But I’m actually going to encourage us not to do that quite yet.
Before we move into goal setting, I want to talk about something that often gets skipped—the power of the pause. Creating space. Being present.
Because leadership isn’t just about managing work. It’s about leading humans. And what we’re talking about today is at the heart of that belief.
Why pausing matters—especially for leaders
This is where we give ourselves permission to pause, breathe, react less, and reconnect with what actually matters.
You might be thinking, “That’s not on the job description. I don’t have time for that.” But you’re human too—and you need to gift yourself time.
And no, I’m not talking about sitting in a meditative pose (although if you do that, amazing), or going off into the woods (also amazing). I’m talking about pausing for a bit.
Because you’re a human first, and a leader second.
The end of the year pulls us everywhere
This time of year can pull us in every direction:
deadlines
budgets
family commitments
expectations around results
unfinished projects
emotions
pressure we put on ourselves
pressure we feel from others
And here’s the truth: if you don’t intentionally create space, life will fill it in for you.
So this is the invitation: slow down, create space, and be present—internally and externally—so you can step into the new year with clarity and possibility.
The ripple effect of your leadership presence
Leaders set the emotional tone—not only at work, but at home and in communities as well.
When a leader is overwhelmed, tense, depleted, or burnt out at the end of the year, that energy ripples. So creating space isn’t a luxury. It’s responsible leadership.
When we don’t pause:
we carry overwhelm into the next year
we make reactive decisions
we miss emotional cues (our own and others’)
we disconnect from our values
But when we create space—when we pause enough to be present—we can reset our nervous system, gain perspective, strengthen relationships, and enter the new year from a grounded place.
This isn’t “soft.” It’s strategic.
If you’re thinking this sounds “soft” and not what it means to be a leader, I want to challenge you to look at it through a different lens.
It’s strategic. It’s the three keys to leadership magic in action:
Character
Confidence
Connection
The impact on you
Creating space helps you reconnect with your values and regain clarity—which opens up emotional bandwidth.
It’s choosing grounding self-awareness over autopilot.
The impact on your team
Your team feels your presence. And you show them it’s okay to be present too.
People co-regulate with us. When we’re grounded, others can move into that grounded place. When we’re stressed and overwhelmed, others pick up on that too.
This is how we build a culture where humanity isn’t just tolerated—it’s valued.
The impact on your organization (and beyond)
Grounded leadership supports better collaboration, fewer preventable fires, healthier conflict, stronger alignment, and increased trust.
It also helps reduce the frantic energy that can lead to reactivity, turnover, and burnout.
And there’s a bigger ripple too: human-centered leaders elevate workplaces, which elevates families and communities. If every leader made time to pause and reconnect with what matters, we’d all be better.
What “creating space” actually looks like
When I say “create space and be present,” I mean:
Mental space
Let yourself think without pressure—without reflection homework, without go-forward planning, without what-ifs. Just letting your brain unclench.
Releasing the noise
There’s so much internal and external noise. Pausing is about shutting it off for a bit.
Emotional space
Ask yourself: How are you actually doing?
Not the surface-level “fine,” “crazy,” or “so busy.” Name what’s true without judgment—and give yourself grace.
Physical space
Rest. Be quiet. Slow your pace, even just a little.
Relational presence
Be fully present with the people you lead. Listen without multitasking. Reconnect. Remember what matters most.
And ask:
Is the way I’m living right now aligned with the leader I want to be?
What are my values—and are my behaviors aligned with them?
Creating space is simply making room for what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.
You don’t need perfect conditions to pause
Now, I get it—some jobs don’t allow a lot of quiet. Especially in hospitality, service industries, and roles that are nonstop. But you still can create mental space. So much of this is internal.
Here are a few questions to ask—without forcing action. Just ask and notice what comes up:
What needs attention right now?
What needs rest?
What needs releasing?
What needs to be appreciated?
The three keys in action
Creating space connects directly to leadership magic:
Character: It honors who you are—not who the world tells you to be. It helps you lead from intention instead of pressure.
Confidence: You hear your own wisdom more clearly. Your decisions become grounded in who you are, which cultivates self-confidence.
Connection: Presence helps people feel seen, valued, and understood. Connection is one of the most powerful forces in leadership and in being human.
Remember: Leadership isn’t about how much you do. It’s not about the checklist. It’s about how fully you show up.
What Do You Think?
How can you practice the power of the pause?
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