You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup
There’s a phrase we’ve all heard, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
It’s become so familiar that we often nod in agreement without really hearing it.
But I’ve been thinking about what happens when that “cup,” our energy, clarity, and sense of purpose, stays empty for too long. Because for many school leaders, that’s where we are right now.
The demands of the job don’t slow down. The needs are real and relentless: students struggling, teachers stretched thin, parents anxious, communities divided. Every day brings a new set of fires to put out, and somehow, we’re expected to keep doing it all with composure, patience, and grace.
At some point, though, the constant giving takes its toll. We start leading on fumes. And when that happens, our perspective narrows. We stop seeing possibilities and start managing problems. We become reactive instead of intentional.
Leadership Isn’t About Endurance
One of the most dangerous myths in education leadership is that the best leaders are the ones who can handle the most, the most meetings, the most crises, the most hours in the building. But leadership isn’t about endurance. It’s about presence.
When we’re rested, grounded, and clear, we see things differently. We notice what matters. We listen better. We find solutions that aren’t visible when we’re exhausted. Our teams feel the difference too, because when leaders are centered, the culture around them steadies.
What Does “Full” Look Like for You?
So here’s the real question: what does “full” look like for you?
Not the Instagram version of balance, but the real, practical fullness that comes from reconnecting with your purpose, your people, and your own boundaries.
For some, that might mean reclaiming quiet time before the school day starts. For others, it’s about setting clearer limits on email after hours or rediscovering joy in something outside of work.
Whatever it is, we owe it to ourselves , and to the people we lead, to protect the conditions that allow us to lead well.
Because when our cup is empty, we’re not just running on less energy, we’re leading with less clarity, less empathy, and less purpose.
A Simple Check-In
This week, try pausing long enough to ask yourself three simple questions:
How full is my cup, really?
What’s draining it most right now?
What one small action would start to refill it?
You don’t need a major life overhaul. You just need one intentional step that brings you back to center.
And if your team or district could use some support building balance, focus, and clarity into your leadership work, I’d be glad to help. That’s what The Leadership Link is all about, practical, human-centered leadership that sustains both people and performance.
Take care of your cup. The people you lead will feel the difference.