Vital Signs of Life: MRS GREN for Leaders

Photo by Cotton Bro Studio

In our last blog, we explored the difference between resting, retreating, and resetting, encouraging you—as busy, stretched leaders—to see summer not as a time to push harder, but as a chance to slow down in order to speed up.

In this post, we’re introducing a practical and thought-provoking tool to support that retreat phase—a chance to pause, reflect, and assess the vital indicators of your leadership health.

From Biology to Boardroom

You may remember MRS GREN from school biology lessons—a simple mnemonic for remembering the seven characteristics of living organisms:

• Movement

• Respiration

• Sensitivity

• Growth

• Reproduction

• Excretion

• Nutrition

These functions aren’t just for plants and animals. In fact, they offer a surprisingly powerful metaphor for what it means to be fully alive and purposeful in leadership.

A study published in the Journal of Leadership Studies (Williams, 2018) found that leaders who practice regular self-reflection report 23% higher levels of decision-making clarity and 19% greater team alignment. Tools like MRS GREN can offer a structured way to enable this kind of reflection.

1. Movement

Where am I moving—mentally, emotionally, strategically?

Leadership without direction can feel like motion without meaning. Research by McKinsey (2020) notes that purposeful leaders are five times more likely to have engaged employees. Are you heading where you wantto go—or just keeping busy?

2. Respiration

   
   

What energises me—and am I regularly breathing that in?

In biology, respiration is how organisms convert energy. In leadership, what are your energy sources? Harvard Business Review (Schwartz & McCarthy, 2007) found that 66% of leaders feel “used up” at the end of each day. Without healthy sources of energy, burnout is inevitable.

3. Sensitivity

   
   

How attuned am I—to myself, my team, and my environment?

Emotional intelligence is now considered one of the most critical leadership skills. According to Goleman (1998), it accounts for nearly 90% of what sets high performers apart. Are you listening to the signals within and around you?

4. Growth

   
   

Where am I actively growing—and where might I be shrinking?

Growth is a non-negotiable sign of life. In leadership, stagnation can lead to irrelevance. A PwC study (2021) found that leaders who actively pursue learning are 30% more likely to report innovation within their teams. How are you stretching your thinking?

5. Reproduction

   
   

What am I passing on—to others, to the organisation, to the next version of myself?

Leaders are multipliers. According to Liz Wiseman’s research in Multipliers (2010), the best leaders amplify the intelligence and capability of those around them. Are you building legacy or just managing load

6. Excretion

What do I need to release—mentally, emotionally, or structurally?

Just as living things must remove waste, leaders must release what no longer serves. This might mean outdated processes, toxic mindsets, or unnecessary responsibilities. In resilience studies, leaders who regularly de-clutter their mental space report 22% lower stress levels (American Psychological Association, 2022).

7. Nutrition

What am I feeding myself—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually?

What you consume shapes how you lead. In an always-on world, the quality of your inputs is crucial. Are you taking in nourishing content, conversations, and experiences—or just scrolling through noise?

Time to Check Your Vital Signs

So, grab a coffee and your journal. Find a quiet space. Reflect honestly. What are the signs that I am fully alive in my leadership? And where might I be showing signs of fatigue, disconnection, or drift?

You can download our free PDF tool here for deeper question prompts linked to each of the MRS GREN indicators.

Download

Next Steps: Reflect with a Guide

If you’d value a guide in this reflective process, why not consider joining us for a Leadership Intensive—a focused, 1:1 experience designed to help you slow down, see clearly, and step forward with renewed direction.

Learn More

References:

• Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence.

• Schwartz, T., & McCarthy, C. (2007). “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time.” Harvard Business Review.

• Williams, R. (2018). “Reflective Leadership Practice and Performance Outcomes.” Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(3).

• McKinsey & Co. (2020). The Value of Purposeful Leadership.

• Wiseman, L. (2010). Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter.

• APA (2022). Work and Well-being Survey.

• PwC (2021). Future of Leadership in a Digital Age.