Unleashing Energy
Workplace Passions: A Powerful Source of Internal Energy
In our book, Change at the Core, Myron Radio and I discuss a concept we call “internal energy.” Internal energy is the force at the core of each one of us. This powerful force drives the decisions we make – from the careers we choose, to which specific tasks we complete and which we tend to procrastinate on.
Internal energy is made up of many factors. The three we discuss in our book are:
- Style: HOW we do what we do (Driving, Influencing, Steady, Careful)
- Passion: WHY we do what we do (Results, People, Creativity, Knowledge, Leading, Tradition)
- Mindset: WHAT we focus on (People, Processes, or Systems)
Is Your Energy Exhausting Other People?
I’ve been told (more than once) that I can be hard to take. While that’s hard feedback to hear, over the years I’ve learned what it means and am starting to learn what to do about it. You see, my energy level is usually pretty high. It’s more than just being extraverted – essentially I am happy, upbeat and expressive. While these characteristics are things most people like about me, I’ve come to realize that my energy level can also turn people off. People that I am meeting for the first time sometimes think, “Wow – what a phony. Nobody can be this positive.” Over time many people realize that it really is me and that I am not faking it.
A New Year and a New Theme
Happy New Year!
As you may have seen from my home page, I am refining the focus of my work and this blog. I took advantage of the quiet time of the holidays to reflect on my own true purpose and passions. I realized that the aspect of leading and communicating change that interests me most is the concept of energy. I believe (and McKinsey’s research supports) that energy is key to any successful change effort – whether it is organizational change or personal change. When we feel energized we approach our life and work with the feeling that we can do things, can make a difference, can be successful.
Energy comes from several places. First, energy comes from within. When we are fulfilling our purpose we feel energized. Energy also comes from our interactions with other people. When I have conversations with certain friends and colleagues, I walk away feeling energized and uplifted – like anything is possible. What is it about these people and my interactions with them? In the coming months, I plan to explore this question along with others such as:
CEOs Looking For People with Passion
Looking for a job? Knowing what you are passionate about may not only help you find the right fit – it may also help you make an impression on your interviewers.
Mindy Grossman is the chief executive of HSN Inc. (a family of businesses that includes the Home Shopping Network). In a recent New York Times article, Grossman was asked what she looks for when hiring. Her response included:
Just a few weeks later, Joseph Plumeri, chairman and chief executive of the insurance broker Willis Group holding was asked what questions he asked job candidates. Can you guess his answer?
Go Ahead, Make Their Day
Are you taking time to genuinely connect with your employees?
A few weeks ago I attended a panel discussion about the impact of executive actions on employee engagement. One of the executive panelists, Steve Bigari spoke about the importance of really caring about employees as individual people. By dressing as waiter and serving coffee before the meeting, he illustrated the point that leaders often don’t see the “invisible” people in their own organizations.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Bigari’s demonstration lately because I am preparing to teach a class on motivating and retaining employees. While there are many aspects of motivation to be explored, I think the most fundamental point is that every employee needs to be seen and know that he/she is respected and valued as a person.
Patrick Lencioni, author of The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, asserts that anonymity is a driving force in what makes people miserable at work. He writes: “People cannot be fulfilled in their work if they are not known.”
Leading a World Cafe
A few years ago, my good friend Jennifer McCollum introduced me to a method of engaging people in powerful dialogue. The method, known as World Cafe, was created by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs. A World Cafe centers on inviting people to meet at small “coffee shop” type tables to have several rounds of conversations. Participants rotate from table to table, building on ideas as they move. Brown and Isaacs have used World Cafes with anywhere from 12 to 12,000 people and their method has been replicated around the world.
In my work, I’ve used the World Cafe method to engage employees at all levels in dialogue about the key issues their team, group, or organization is facing. By moving from table to table and focusing on having conversations, rather than making decisions, participants broaden their own thinking and begin to understand and value different perspectives.
To read stories about successful World Cafes and to learn how to host one yourself, visit www.WorldCafe.com.
Committee Leadership
I recently decided that, since our book is now done, it was time for me to come out of my cave and get involved in my community. So, over the past couple of months I’d joined several committees. I began to notice that after some committee meetings I was energized and excited. After others, I wanted to nap or pretend to be moving out of the country to avoid future meetings!
As I reflected on my experiences, I realized that committee leadership isn’t really that different from leading any team inside an organization. Here are a few observations:
Don’t Jump to Tactics Too Quickly
I was surprised by how often leaders jumped to assigning action items in the very first meeting of a new committee. Of course, there is always a lot of work to be done, but focusing on tasks too quickly can derail any team. Before assigning jobs or even asking for volunteers, leaders should:
Help Committee Members Build Relationships
A Sense of Urgency
John Kotter is often described as the world’s foremost authority on leadership and change. So what does this guru believe is the key to successful change? Just take a look at the title of his new book, A Sense of Urgency.
According to Kotter, creating urgency is the first step in any change effort. It’s also often overlooked. Many companies suffer from complacency – an overdose of self-confidence that causes myopic views. Other organizations are plagued by a false sense of urgency – hectic activity driven by fear. Successful companies, on the other hand, experience what Kotter calls “true urgency”. True urgency is driven by a deep determination to win, not anxiety about losing.
So how do you go about creating a true sense of urgency? Kotter’s book presents four specific tactics, such as “bring the inside in” and “act with urgency every day.”
Get a preview of the book by watching this video clip.
