It takes a miracle to re-ignite a fire once you’ve hosed it down.
Skillful leaders use words to energize and release. Foolish leaders rein in and control.
Everyone has a fire inside. Leadership’s role is throwing gas on it.
10 principles of energy:
- Leading is easy when teams feel energized.
- Energy levels are leadership’s responsibility.
- Untended fires go out.
- Energy is a gift. You can’t buy it.
- Energy indicates love. High energy says people are doing what they love.
- Everywhere you see energy follow it, study it, and fuel it with words.
- Progress and success energize. Create and celebrate wins.
- Excellence energizes. Mediocrity deflates.
- Failure deflates. Evaluate failure and move forward quickly.
- Remove wet logs. Energy is contagious but, one wet log cools the whole fire.
7 questions:
Ask seven questions to explore, ignite, maintain, and fuel energy.
- Your eyes just lit up, what energized you?
- What was energizing about that? (The second question is the most important.)
- How might we focus your energy to accomplish our mission?
- What cools your energy?
- How can I fuel your energy?
- How can you monitor and maintain high energy?
- Who on your team loves to do what you hate?
Tip: Explore low energy when energy is high. Don’t bring it up when people are down.
5 things energizing leaders never say:
- “Do it my way.” Every time someone does it your way they lose energy.
- “It doesn’t matter.”
- “Do it or else.”
- “I sure told them what to do!”
- “Just do your best.” Fuzzy expectations never energize.
It’s easier to throw wood on a fire than to start one from scratch.
6 ways to energize teammates:
- Clarify focus. Wandering in the weeds drains energy.
- Simplifying next steps.
- Keep people in the loop.
- Respect their talent and contribution.
- Solve meaningful problems together.
- Finish something today.
What do leaders say that de-energizes?
What can you add to any of the lists I’ve offered?