What is Core Energy Coaching®?
Core Energy Coaching® is a transformative approach to leadership and personal development created by Bruce D. Schneider, the founder of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). This powerful coaching methodology is rooted in the idea that the energy we bring to any situation significantly influences the outcomes we experience in both our personal and professional lives. Core Energy Coaching® helps individuals understand, harness, and elevate their energy to lead more effectively, make better decisions, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
At the heart of Core Energy Coaching® is the concept of energy levels, which are used to assess how individuals perceive and respond to their world. These levels range from catabolic (destructive and draining) to anabolic (constructive and uplifting) energies. By becoming aware of these levels and learning to shift between them, leaders and individuals can elevate their consciousness, reduce stress, and lead from a more empowered, purpose-driven place.
The Foundation of Core Energy Coaching®
Core Energy Coaching® is grounded in the idea that people experience the world through different levels of consciousness, which directly impact their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Schneider’s Energy Leadership™ framework outlines seven distinct levels of energy that represent the spectrum of how people respond to challenges, opportunities, and everyday situations. These levels span from lower energy states, where individuals may feel victimized or stuck in conflict, to higher energy states of collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
According to Schneider, the goal of Core Energy Coaching® is to help individuals become aware of their default energy levels and patterns so they can consciously shift toward higher, more anabolic energy . This shift enables leaders to access greater clarity, improve relationships, and enhance performance both for themselves and their teams.
The Seven Levels of Energy
The seven levels of energy are central to the Core Energy Coaching® model. Each level corresponds to a mindset and energy that influences how we perceive and act in the world:
Level 1: Victim Energy (Catabolic) – Individuals at this level feel helpless or trapped, often seeing themselves as victims of their circumstances. They may experience a lack of control or motivation.
Level 2: Conflict Energy (Catabolic) – This level is characterized by defiance, anger, or frustration. Leaders operating from this energy often see competition and conflict as primary drivers.
Level 3: Rationalizing Energy (Transitioning to Anabolic) – At this level, individuals begin to take responsibility for their actions but often settle for compromise or “good enough” solutions to avoid conflict or stress.
Level 4: Caring Energy (Anabolic) – Leaders with Level 4 energy focus on service and empathy, often prioritizing the needs of others over their own.
Level 5: Opportunity Energy (Anabolic) – This level is marked by seeing challenges as opportunities. Leaders here focus on collaboration and finding solutions that benefit everyone.
Level 6: Synthesis Energy (Anabolic) – Individuals at Level 6 experience high levels of intuition, creativity, and flow. They can see the interconnectedness of situations and operate from a place of shared success.
Level 7: Absolute Passion Energy (Anabolic) – At the highest level, leaders experience pure passion, viewing all situations as opportunities for growth and progress without attachment to specific outcomes.
Core Energy Coaching® empowers individuals to recognize where they typically operate and helps them consciously shift toward higher levels of energy, where creativity, intuition, and collaboration thrive .
How Core Energy Coaching® Transforms Leadership
The impact of Core Energy Coaching® on leadership is profound. Leaders who operate from higher energy levels inspire their teams to think creatively, overcome challenges, and remain solution-focused. Leaders are able to adapt their approach to fit the needs of each situation, whether it requires direct action, empathy, or strategic insight.
Moreover, Core Energy Coaching® helps leaders understand how their energy affects their environment. A leader who consistently operates from catabolic energy (e.g., frustration, conflict) will likely create a stressed, reactive team culture. Conversely, a leader who embodies anabolic energy fosters innovation, trust, and long-term success .
By increasing self-awareness and emotional intelligence, leaders can learn to consciously elevate their energy, resulting in more effective communication, better decision-making, and greater overall impact.
The Role of the Energy Leadership™ Index (ELI)
A key tool in Core Energy Coaching® is the Energy Leadership™ Index (ELI) assessment. The ELI is a unique, research-backed assessment that measures a person’s energy levels across the seven levels of energy. Unlike personality assessments that provide static results, the ELI shows individuals how they currently perceive and respond to different situations—both on a good day and when they are stressed.
This insight is incredibly valuable for leaders who want to understand how their energy impacts their leadership effectiveness. With this knowledge, leaders can work with a coach to develop strategies for shifting toward higher, anabolic energy levels and creating a more positive, productive work environment .
Why Core Energy Coaching® Works
The reason Core Energy Coaching® is so effective is that it goes beyond surface-level change. By focusing on a leader’s underlying energy and mindset, Core Energy Coaching® enables individuals to transform how they see and approach the world. It empowers leaders to stop reacting to circumstances and start creating them. This shift from unconscious reaction to conscious creation is what sets Core Energy Coaching® apart from other coaching methodologies.
Conclusion
Core Energy Coaching® is a powerful approach to leadership and personal growth that transforms how leaders perceive and respond to the world. By understanding and elevating their energy, leaders can create lasting change in both their personal and professional lives, ultimately leading from a place of empowerment, clarity, and purpose.
If you’re ready to unlock your leadership potential through Core Energy Coaching®, consider taking the Energy Leadership™ Index assessment and working with a certified coach who can guide you on your journey.
Note: Energy Coaching was created by Bruce Schneider, Ph.D., M.C.C., and is taught and certified through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-accredited training program. This summary contains my interpretation of their copyrighted work.
