By Sénamé Agbossou "If you're always the one pushing projects forward..." Roxane's message came through LinkedIn at 11:47 PM on a Tuesday: "I'm exhausted from being the only one who seems to care about getting things done. My team thinks I'm too intense, but if I don't push, nothing happens. How do I lead without burning everyone out?" Sound familiar? If you're nodding as you read this, you might be what I call a Driver: one of the five Work Energy Types I've identified in my years of coaching executives. And while your drive is likely your greatest asset, it might also be your biggest leadership challenge. Meet the Driver: Roxane's Story Roxane runs operations for a tech startup in Amsterdam. Brilliant, decisive, and results-oriented, she'd built a reputation for delivering the impossible. When the company needed to launch their product six weeks early to beat a competitor, Roxane made it happen. When their biggest client threatened to leave over service issues, Roxane personally fixed every problem in 72 hours. But by the time she reached out to me, Roxane was leading a demoralized team with 40% turnover in eight months. "I don't understand it," she said during our first conversation. "I give them clear goals, I remove obstacles, I celebrate wins. But they say I'm 'too much.' How is wanting excellence too much?" Roxane was experiencing what I call the Driver's Paradox: the very intensity that makes you effective can create the conditions that make you less effective. Understanding the Driver Energy Pattern Drivers are energized by momentum, achievement, and breakthrough results. They see what needs to happen and make it happen, often before others have finished discussing whether it's a good idea. In the Ubuntu philosophy of "I am because we are," Drivers serve as the catalysts who transform collective potential into actual outcomes. But here's what Roxane was missing: leadership isn't just about getting results through your own energy; it's about creating conditions where others can contribute their natural energy to achieve shared results. Core Driver Strengths: Action-oriented: You take charge when others hesitate Decisive: You make confident decisions that keep projects moving Focused: You cut through complexity to what really matters High standards: You drive excellence in yourself and others Energy Sources: Clear, urgent goals with real deadlines High-pressure execution where stakes matter Visible, direct impact from your efforts Breaking through obstacles and getting teams unstuck The Driver's Growth Edge Three months into our coaching work, Roxane had a breakthrough moment. During a team retrospective, her lead developer Rebecca said something that changed everything: "Roxane, your energy is incredible, and it's what makes our impossible deadlines possible. But sometimes I feel like a passenger in a car that's going too fast. I want to contribute more than just hanging on." Roxane realized she'd been leading like a solo performer rather than an orchestra conductor. Her natural Driver energy was getting results, but it wasn't creating space for others to bring their unique contributions. The Ubuntu Shift:…