As an extrovert, I gain energy from being around people but after a full day of teaching, I often come home very tired. Introverts may be even more tired after being around others and may need longer to recharge. If your energy tanks are on empty on a regular basis after a day of work, you may not have much left to devote to family, friends or anything else. If consistent, many aspects of your life may be paying a toll. On the other hand, if your work day energizes you, you can accomplish more at work and your outside relationships are more likely to thrive.
The Harvard Business Review interviewed Dr. Bernd Vogel who is an assistant professor of leadership and organizational behavior at the Henley Business School and a published author. Dr. Vogel's work identifies strategies to activate work teams including intensity, quality, resigned inertia and corrosive energy.
Intensity - how engaged are you with your organization? Do you believe in your work and your company?
Quality - are you enthusiastic and productive in your work? Do you feel supported and involved? Are you content to just go with the flow or are you actively working towards improvements?
Resigned inertia - do you believe you can succeed and grow in your work? If you do not believe you are able to make a difference or influence change or develop your career and you are just going through the daily motions, you probably think it is not worth any effort to do anything more - which can be exhausting.
Corrosive energy - is where some people are actively initiating conflicts, betraying the organization, complaining constantly and initiating others into their causes and negativity.
If you focus on the first two components - intensity and quality, and actively avoid or deter the latter two - resigned inertia and corrosive energy, you will leave the workplace with more energy. If you are not able to invest in intensity and quality because of the organization's structure, mission or objectives, you may need to search for a new job. Staying with predictable can be easier than changing to search for improvement but if you are successful, the rewards will be obvious.
You will enjoy your work, your colleagues and your job. Your health will improve which will help you to work smarter and live longer. Your increase in energy and decrease in stress will improve your relationships both in and out of your workplace.
For more on improving your energy conservation in the workplace, visit our website at www.makoed.com, email Mako & Associates at DeeAn@MakoEd.com or 206-992-7484.
