Every year, a few weeks before Ramadan, I feel the same shift coming.
Not just in the calendar, but in the atmosphere of the workplace.
Conversations change.
Energy levels fluctuate.
People start talking about family, ftour or iftar, prayer, and sleep schedules.
And while the team prepares for the spiritual side of the month, managers quietly prepare for something else entirely: survival mode.
Because the truth is, switching to Ramadan mode is not as simple as reducing working hours. It’s a complete reset of how a business operates, how clients react and how a manager leads.
When the Clock Changes (that is another article to write, the GMT and GMT+1), but the Expectations Don’t.
On paper, Ramadan seems easy to manage. Shorter hours. Fewer meetings. A more relaxed pace.
But in reality, clients don’t fast. Deadlines don’t fast. Targets definitely don’t fast.
Orders still come in.
Suppliers still call.
Customers still expect quick answers.
And suddenly, the same amount of work needs to happen in less time, with teams that are fasting, sleeping less, and running on completely different energy rhythms.
That’s where the real challenge begins.
Managing Energy, Not Just Time
During Ramadan, productivity doesn’t follow a normal schedule, Some team members are sharp early in the morning, while others only become fully functional closer to the end of the day.
And by late afternoon, energy levels can drop dramatically.
As a manager, you quickly realize that traditional planning doesn’t work anymore.
You stop asking, “How many hours do we have?”
And start asking, “When is everyone at their best?”
Important decisions move to the hours when the team is most alert. Non-essential meetings disappear. Priorities become brutally clear.
Because during Ramadan, there’s no space for unnecessary work.
The Emotional Weight No One Talks About
There’s also a side of Ramadan management that rarely gets mentioned: the emotional load.
Ramadan is a month of reflection, generosity, and patience. But for managers, it can quietly become a month of pressure.
You’re thinking about:
• Team fatigue
• Last-minute absences
• Customer expectations
• Operational gaps
• End-of-day stress
• And your own fasting schedule
You have to stay calm when the team is tired.
You have to motivate people who haven’t had coffee all day, including yourself.
You have to solve problems faster, with less time and less energy.
And most of the time, no one sees that side of the job.
What Actually Makes Ramadan Work
Over time, I’ve learned that Ramadan doesn’t require harder management, It requires smarter, more human management.
A few things make a big difference:
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- Clear priorities
- Not everything is urgent. Focus on what truly matters this month.
- Short, focused communication
If something can be said in two sentences, don’t turn it into a meeting.
Flexible planning
Let people work during their peak energy hours whenever possible.
More patience than usual
Ramadan is not the time for rigid management styles.
Small gestures
A kind message, an early release, or a shared iftar can transform team morale.
The Hidden Gift of Ramadan
Despite the challenges, Ramadan has something powerful to offer managers. It slows things down just enough to remind us what leadership is really about.
Not just numbers.
Not just performance.
But people.
You notice who supports others.
You see how the team adapts together.
You learn to communicate with more empathy and less urgency.
And strangely, by the end of the month, many teams feel more connected than before.
A Different Kind of Leadership
Switching to Ramadan mode is not about doing less.
It’s about leading differently.
Less pressure.
More clarity.
Less noise.
More intention.
Because Ramadan doesn’t just change the schedule.
It changes the way we work, lead, and relate to each other.
And for managers, it’s one of the most honest tests of leadership there is.
Ramadan Kareem to you and your team and feel free to share your best practices with us do we can all learn
