333: How Capacity Erosion Is Redefining Leadership in 2026 with Kathryn Landis

In this episode of Allyship in Action, Julie Kratz is joined by HBR writer, executive and team coach, Kathryn Landis, to explore capacity erosion—the gradual depletion of energy and focus facing today's leaders. In an era of constant change and cognitive overload, Landis shares how leaders can reclaim their impact by shifting from micromanagement to intentional empowerment and strategic reflection.

Key Takeaways

• Focus on Your "$100 Activities": Leaders often gravitate toward low-impact tasks for a quick sense of productivity. Reclaiming capacity requires identifying the high-level strategic work that only you can do.

  "Get really clear on what's the work that only you can do... what you actually could be focusing on that's going to move the needle the most is perhaps working with your cross-functional colleagues, the other members of the C-suite, to strengthen those ties." — Kathryn Landis

• Empower Your Team Through Clarity: High-performing teams thrive on a clear purpose and defined decision rights. To reduce your own workload, ensure your team understands exactly what they own and what success looks like.

  "Do people have a clear purpose? Do people know why they're a team? Most people know what their job description is... but I was leading an off-site last week; they didn't know what their team goals were. They don't know what success looks like." — Kathryn Landis

• Prioritize the "Lamp Post" for Reflection: Intentional reflection is a non-negotiable for effective leadership. Creating a dedicated space to process information—even just by talking to a metaphorical lamp post—can provide significant mental clarity.

  "If someone would go and speak to a lamp post for an hour every day at the same time, they'd get 60% of the benefit of coaching... just creating the space and time to be intentional about where you're spending your time, reflecting on what you're doing." — Kathryn Landis

  Connect with Kathryn and take her free team assessment here: https://kathryn-landis.kit.com/3dcf1c4440