As we move into the new year, many of our clients report feeling some fatigue and ennui. Causes range from residual Covid impacts, tiring of the challenges in their work and lives, or they’re experiencing an overall lack of balance or motivation. Why does this matter? Certainly, for personal fulfillment, and because leaders set the tone within their organizations. Their energy creates ripple effects within their culture and environment. It follows that if leaders and top teams desire vibrancy within their organizations, they need to assess and manage their own energy.
To clarify: a person’s energy is a combination of their views of the world and themselves, plus their emotions and attitudes. This energy is felt and experienced by others, whether intended or not. Paying attention to this energy is vital to creating positive impact.
Like life cycles within nature, individuals, teams, and organizations go through their own cycles as well. By paying attention to our energy, we can find ways to re-focus and transform in the process. If you are feeling low energy or stuck, and desire a fresh start, some inspiration, or spark to get you going, here are some ways we are helping clients refresh their energies as they tackle their goals in 2024.
- Figure out what drains you. Notice your energy and when it drops, particularly during the week, or when you look at your calendar and to-do list. Be curious, and journal about the source. One of my clients found that she was drained by having to tiptoe around people with strong reactions, out of a desire to keep things stable. Yet by doing so there was a cost to both her and the organization.
- What is a fountain or source of energy for you? If you can’t identify one in your life now, look to the past. What has previously brought you joy or put you in a state of flow? If you still can’t figure it out, try some new activities to see which help you feel more fully present and restored.
- Assess your balance in life. Not just work/life but with a lens towards a well-rounded life using the following categories: family, friends, spiritual, physical, community, work, hobbies, nature. Where are you not spending enough time? Where are you overcommitted? What practice could you put in place to help you? While working with a senior leader who was dragging, he realized he needed a structure to exercising that would give him energy, so he is trying a new routine.
- Deepen awareness and fulfillment by knowing your top five character strengths, which are derived from six core virtues that relate to all of humanity. We are working with several leaders to examine their top character strengths, the degree to which they are present in life, and how to find the Golden Mean. This is the desirable middle between two extremes – one of excess and the other of deficiency.
- Declare your purpose or intent for 2024. Two ways to start, chose a word for the year that captures an intention for how you want to lead and live. Or define your leadership declaration or purpose both serve as a catalyst for how you focus your energy and time. By focusing on purpose we guide our thoughts and actions. One of my clients chose the word FLOURISHING, which directly relates to her role as an executive leading transformation, and to her roles in life.
- Understand your stress response and how to work with it, so you can minimize stress and learn tools to manage through stressful times. At Capacity Group, we use the Hogan Leadership Assessment along with somatic exercises to help our clients. A current client has found this work to be eye-opening. He now has a greater understanding of his stress response, its impact on him and others, how to recognize it, ways to redirect his focus, and practices to reduce stress.
- Make an investment in your health and well-being. Truly ask yourself questions such as: How well do you feel? How well are you sleeping? How clean is your eating? How rested or reactive is your nervous system? There is much to unpack here. Physical health is a critical focus for top leaders.
At Capacity Group, we focus on helping leaders and teams unleash their full potential. This includes all aspects of leading well (cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual). If you would like assistance exploring what you need, or using any of these tools, please get in touch.