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Podcast Episode

[ScaleX Bite-Size] - Leadership Wellness with Adam Kingl

ScaleX™ Insider Podcast··31 August 2026·7 min

About this episode

Leadership performance isn't just about strategy, decision-making or execution. What happens when the biggest thing holding leaders back is simply a lack of energy? In this clip, Brendan McGurgan and Adam Kingl explore the growing connection between leadership wellness, energy and sustainable business growth. Adam explains why exhaustion has become such a common challenge for executives, as longer working weeks, constant connectivity and a culture of overwork push leaders towards an unsustainable "macho" work ethic. They discuss why scaling a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and why leaders need to think differently about how they protect and replenish their energy over the long term. Adam also challenges the idea that putting your health and wellbeing first is selfish. Instead, he argues that looking after yourself enables you to bring better energy to your family, your team and your organisation. The conversation also explores why knowledge alone isn't enough to change behaviour. Adam shares how focusing on the positive outcomes of healthier choices can be more powerful than simply highlighting the consequences of poor ones—and why nutrition can play an important role in supporting leadership performance. If you're an SME leader, founder or business owner, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership wellness, sustainable performance and the true cost of overwork. In this clip: Why exhaustion is becoming a major barrier to leadership performance How longer working weeks are affecting leaders The hidden cost of the "macho" work ethic Why scaling a business is a marathon, not a sprint Why leadership wellness starts with looking after yourself How health and wellbeing affect the energy you bring to your team Why knowledge alone isn't enough to change habits Why focusing on the upside can encourage lasting change How nutrition can support sustainable leadership performance Timestamps 00:00 Why exhaustion is becoming a leadership challenge 00:55 The rise of the 60+ hour work week 02:00 The hidden cost of the "macho" work ethic 03:05 Why scaling is a marathon, not a sprint 04:00 Why leaders should prioritise health and wellbeing 05:00 Why knowledge alone isn't enough 06:00 The power of selling the upside 07:00 Nutrition as a leadership performance toolConnect with Simple Scaling 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com📧 Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling Enjoyed this clip? If you found value in this conversation, like, subscribe, leave a review, share it with another leader, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.