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Organizational Energy: How to Fuel the 6 Engines of Success

Dan Rockwell

The leader’s job is to ignite the six engines of organizational energy. You die a slow death when you neglect vitality.

The 6 engines of organizational energy:

#1. Progress

  1. Solve problems. What recurring issues could we make better today?
  2. Confront obstacles. What’s holding you back?
  3. Streamline processes. What creates drag in our organization?
  4. Encourage new ideas. What would an ideal day look like for you or your team?

#2. Meaning

  1. Do things that matter. How do your daily activities align with our shared values?
  2. Invest yourself in work. What energizes you during the day? What does your energy show you about what’s important to you?
  3. Engage in activities that benefit the community. How can we add value to a nonprofit in our community?

#3. Relationships

  1. Build relationships with motivated colleagues. What do fulfilling work relationships look like? Sound like?
  2. Encourage healthy competition. How can we help each other reach higher?
  3. Share stories. What is one of the formative stories of your young life?
  4. Generate camaraderie. Think of a team that pulled together. What does it take for that to happen on our current team?

#4. Personal Growth

  1. Share development goals. What are you working on?
  2. Provide challenge and support. On a scale of 1 to 10 how challenging is this project for you? How can we support you without doing your job for you?
  3. Discuss lessons learned. What are you learning about …? (leading meetings, building team morale, …?)

#5. Leadership

  1. Foster confidence. How can you practice transparency and vulnerability today?
  2. Clarify success. What will be true if this project succeeds? For customers? For our organization?
  3. Empower competent people. What meetings should you stop attending?
  4. Listen openly. Include questions like, “What makes this important to you?”

#6. Recognition

  1. Acknowledge success. What’s working?
  2. Establish weekly milestones. What’s one thing you will have done by this Friday?
  3. Celebrate. What accomplishments make you feel proud?

What are some other sources of organizational energy?

What will you do today to fuel organizational energy?

Still curious:

Pour Energy into Energy

Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time (hbr.org)

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