Episode Summary: Mastering The Energy Edge | Jabin Chavez Leadership Podcast #064

Host: Jabin Chavez
Date: September 17, 2025
Theme: Rethinking Leadership Effectiveness By Mastering Personal Energy

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jabin Chavez reframes a popular leadership discourse: rather than focusing on balance or rhythm, effective leaders should prioritize their energy—how it’s generated, protected, and spent. With practical, pastor-centric examples, Jabin encourages leaders to optimize their personal and professional routines in a way that fosters maximum impact, particularly on the most critical days in their roles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rejecting "Balance" and "Rhythm" — Focus on Energy (02:30)

• Outdated Models: Leadership circles have long discussed "balance" and "rhythm" as ideals, but Jabin finds both insufficient.
• Central Question: "You only have so much energy... How are you using that? How are you feeding that? What is stripping you of that? How are you protecting that?" (03:10)
• Energy as a Currency: Time isn’t the only finite resource—energy is too.

Principle 1: What Feeds Your Energy? Do That More (04:15)

• Identify Energy Sources: Whether it’s reading, golf, praying, preaching, or getting around certain people—do these more often.
• Sunday is Coming (Pastoral Focus): Every week, pastors must deliver their best. Preparation throughout the week should be directed toward optimizing energy for Sunday delivery.
  • “You need to have energy for Sunday. You need to be at your best, giving your best, bringing your best on Sunday... What feeds energy for Sunday so that when you walk into the pulpit Sunday morning, your mind is fresh, your heart is full, your body is energized?” (06:05)
• Weekly Planning: Build your week so that the most important task (for pastors, Sunday service) gets the best of your energy.
• *“I'm building my entire week around me being my best because Jesus said, if I love him, I will feed his sheep.” (07:20)

Principle 2: What Eats Your Energy? Do That Less (11:08)

• Inevitable Drains: Not everything draining energy can be avoided, but you can minimize these activities.
• Andy Stanley Reference: Acknowledges the wisdom in "do the things only you can do," but admits it's aspirational for most leaders currently.
• Personal Example: One-on-one meetings and lunches drain Jabin. Early in his ministry, he did many; now, far less.
  • “Meeting with guys one on one is very taxing for me... It wears me out. I don't like to do it a lot, and I don't do it a lot.” (12:30)
  • “Hey, don't divorce your wife. Go to counseling... Next week, 'I gave my wife papers.' Bet. Okay, awesome.” (13:55)
  • Avoids one-on-ones, long lunches, and energy-consuming meetings unless necessary.
• Redefining Discipleship: Moves away from direct personal discipleship to leading from the pulpit or in small groups.
  • "I disciple from the pulpit. I disciple from teaching ministry. I disciple a different way." (15:55)
• Warning on Time Sinks: 30-minute meetings never stay 30 minutes—they overrun and overdraw your energy.
• Evaluate Entertainment & Habits: Assess TV, news, Netflix, or even social drinking for their net energy impact.

Delegating and Redesigning Workflows (19:50)

• Hand Off What You Can: Whenever possible, reduce energy-draining responsibilities through delegation.
• Staff Development Shift: Weekly leadership meetings for the whole staff proved unproductive, as most staff were not "leaders" but "doers."
  • "I was trying to make doers leaders. So I was talking to them like leaders, but they were doers, so I was wasting time." (21:10)
• Monthly Chapel: Switched to a monthly format that preserved energy and was more meaningful for the team.

Motivational Segment: Who Are You Energizing? (26:45)

• Leadership Multiplication: Jabin gains energy from helping other leaders—notably when his insights move a leader from good to great.
  • “I know right now I am helping a senior pastor... a few little tweaks from today's talk might take you from 200 people to 400 people... That gives me energy.” (27:22)
• Differentiating Team Roles: Outlines the differences between doers, managers, directors, and leaders within a church staff.
  • "None of these are bad things. They're just different." (28:41)

Practical Takeaways & Memorable Advice

• *“What feeds your energy, do it more. What eats your energy, do it less.” (29:20)
• Stop Obsessing Over Balance/ Rhythm; Start Measuring Energy: Adapt routines and assignments to this model.
• Dinner as Sacred Time: Protects family dinners and only rarely accepts invitations because it’s a key energy-maintenance habit.
  • "Can we go to dinner? Probably not. It's gonna be really hard to get me to go to dinner with you. Why? Because I love dinner with my family." (30:10)
• Reason for Success: “You want to know why you're so blessed on the weekend? ... Because I am managing energy. Why is the church growing? I'm managing energy. It's a different way to think.” (31:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Let the haters hate... I make no apologies. I'm building my entire week around me being my best.” (07:55)
• “Meeting with guys one on one... I've just, I'm done, basically done.” (13:10)
• "I disciple from the pulpit. I disciple from teaching ministry. I disciple a different way." (15:55)
• "You would probably do way better, pastor, to pray with your team than to teach your team." (23:32)
• “What feeds your energy, do it more. What eats your energy, do it less.” (29:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:45 – Introduction to the concept of energy as central to leadership
• 04:15 – Principle 1: Feeding your energy
• 11:08 – Principle 2: Reducing what eats your energy
• 19:50 – Redesigning workflows and delegating tasks
• 26:45 – Motivational moment: Energizing other leaders
• 29:20 – Summary and trademark phrase
• 30:10 – Importance of protecting family and personal time
• 31:05 – Final reflection on energy management and leadership success

Final Thoughts

Jabin Chavez advocates for a fundamental shift from blind pursuit of work-life balance or rhythm, instead urging leaders to intentionally maximize the energy they bring to their most important work by honest evaluation and strategic action. His direct, relatable, and sometimes provocative style makes this episode invaluable for leaders ready to rethink how they lead themselves and their organizations.