Most leaders today are constantly reacting to challenges, managing stress, and just trying to get through the day. While this may feel like the norm, it’s actually a dangerous and exhausting cycle. Survival mode can limit your ability to lead effectively.
In this article, inspired by our conversation with Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works, we’ll break down why leaders get stuck in survival mode and how to make the shift toward thriving leadership.
“If you’re not thriving, it’s very hard to amplify thriving for others. It doesn’t matter what words you use—how you show up will always have a bigger ripple effect.”
– Ashish Kothari
Now more than ever, we need a different model of leading—one that truly holds the thriving of people and the planet as part of leadership itself. This is how the concept of thriving leadership began.
Recognize the difference between thriving and surviving
If you’ve ever thought:
“If I can just get through this week, I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t have time to think about well-being right now.”
“I need to push harder to keep up.”
Then you might be leading in survival mode. Survival mode leaders are constantly reactive, always putting out fires, and rarely feeling a sense of fulfillment in their work.
Thriving leaders, on the other hand, take a proactive approach to leadership. They focus on energy management, resilience, and long-term impact, rather than just getting through the day.
Are you making decisions from a place of survival or thriving? Pause and assess your leadership mindset regularly. Set aside 10-15 minutes weekly to reflect on these key questions:
- Am I reacting to problems or proactively creating opportunities?
- Am I making decisions out of fear or vision?
- Is my team feeling drained or energized?
If the answers lean toward survival mode, take it as a wakeup call. But don’t worry, this six-part thriving leadership framework has got you covered 👇
“True leadership is about creating the conditions for all people—and the planet—to thrive.”
– Renee Moorefield
The Six-Part Thriving Leadership Framework
There are many different elements that contribute to thriving leadership. Renee put it altogether in this framework to help you move beyond survival mode and build a sustainable leadership style that fosters well-being, performance, and long-term impact.
- Thriving – Lead with Resilience
Thriving leaders feel well-resourced to handle uncertainty and complexity. Instead of feeling drained by challenges, they have the mental and emotional capacity to navigate them effectively. Start noticing when you feel drained vs. energized. What activities help you reset?
- Fuel – Optimize Your Energy
A leader’s performance is directly linked to their energy levels. Fueling yourself means prioritizing sleep, nutrition, movement, and recovery. Get at least 7 hours of sleep and take 5-minute movement breaks throughout your day.
- Flow – Engage in Meaningful Work
Flow happens when you’re deeply engaged, challenged, and motivated. Leaders in survival mode feel stuck in back-to-back meetings, while thriving leaders find purpose and joy in their work. Block one hour each day for deep, uninterrupted work that energizes you.
- Wonder – Stay Curious
Thriving leaders approach challenges with curiosity, not fear. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, they embrace learning and new perspectives. Instead of asking, “How do I fix this?”, try asking, “What can I learn from this?”
- Wisdom – Lead with Vision and Purpose
Many leaders operate based on short-term pressures, rather than long-term purpose. Wisdom is about stepping back and aligning decisions with your bigger vision. Ask yourself, “What kind of leader do I want to be a year from now?”
- Thriving Amplified – Create a Thriving Team
The best leaders don’t just thrive individually—they create the conditions for their teams to thrive as well. Have a 5-minute check-in with your team each week to ask: “What’s one thing that would help you feel more supported?”
The link between leadership well-being and team performance
So much of the work around well-being at work is being done in organizations where the leaders themselves are not well. As a leader, don’t underestimate the power of your personal well-being to impact your effectiveness, decision-making, and even your team’s performance.
Renee’s Be Well, Lead Well Pulse study shows that 34% of leadership impact is tied to psychological well-being, reinforcing that a thriving leader is a more effective leader.
Surviving is a habit—but so is thriving. The shift starts with small, intentional changes. If you want to lead with more energy, clarity, and impact, you can start with these small shifts now:
✅ Recognize stress patterns – Notice what drains you vs. what fuels you.
✅ Master state shifts – Use breathwork, movement, and mindfulness to stay balanced.
✅ Prioritize energy, not just time – Sleep, rest, and movement should be non-negotiable.
✅ Define your personal vision of thriving – Ask “What does thriving mean to me?”
✅ Find a thriving network – Surround yourself with other growth-minded leaders. Find your “Island of Thriving”—whether it’s in mastermind groups, leadership programs, or podcasts like The Happiness Squad.
You are hardwired with the capacity to thrive. You also have the hardwired capacity to survive. And in every moment, you get to choose how you’re going to show up.
Conclusion
The real measure of leadership isn’t how much you personally achieve, but how well your influence carries forward—into teams, organizations, families, and communities. When thriving leaders elevate others, they create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the workplace. That’s the true vision and purpose of thriving leadership—not just sustaining work, but fostering self-sustaining growth.
If you want to make the shift from surviving to thriving leadership now, you have to be intentional. You have to decide, “I want to be more effective, more fulfilled, have more meaning, more vitality, more thriving in my life.”
If you commit to putting energy and conscious thought into your own journey—and supporting others in doing the same—you will see results.
In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works Group, Inc., explore what it truly means to thrive as a leader, why most leaders are stuck in survival mode, and how to make the shift from surviving to thriving.
Learn more about Renee at her LinkedIn.
Listen to the podcast with Ashish and Renee below.
Access and subscribe to all of the episodes of the Happiness Squad Podcast here.
Visit the REWIRE Program powered up by the HAPPINESS SQUAD Community and experience your shift within your 30-day risk-free trial today. Cultivate your Self-Awareness, Gratitude, Purpose, Community, and personal growth more through the 9 Hardwired for Happiness practices. Integrate simple and proven micro-practices grounded in the science of happiness and neuroscience of habit formation in 5 minutes a day.
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