Friday, November 17, 2006
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Drained
As the clock strikes three, you mentally pat yourself on the back for a productive day. You’ve successfully orchestrated morning meetings and have benefited significantly from a late lunch appointment. Despite a packed schedule, the past hour of emails has put you on track for two important hours you’ve guarded at the end of the day. At long last, you have uninterrupted time for strategic thinking and future planning.
Unfortunately, upon reaching the peak hours of your day, you’re hopelessly drained. Your thoughts won’t focus, and you can’t seem to concentrate on anything remotely productive. You know you should press on for a couple of hours, but your energy feels sapped. You’re zapped, and you want to call it a day. You surf the net for a few minutes, respond to some nonessential emails, and pack your bags for home.
Energy Management
No matter how flawlessly you organize your schedule, an energy deficiency will undermine your efficiency. You can master the art of time management, but if your tank of energy is empty, then all of your prioritizing and scheduling wizardry will be for naught.
In her column for Entrepreneur.com, Patty Vogan focuses on energy management as opposed to time management. As Vogan writes, “Unlike time, your energy capacity is something you can increase and renew in order to meet the challenges you face on a daily basis.” Whereas time is finite, energy can be almost limitless. Hours upon hours of free time are useless when you’re burnt-out, but even a few spare moments can be packed with productivity when you’re full of vim and vigor.
Vogan paints four pictures to describe the energy levels of leaders: a shark, dolphin, whale, and jellyfish.
Shark:
While having spark, the bulk of a shark’s energy is negative, and such a person is moments away from biting off someone’s head.
Dolphin:
The energy reserves of dolphins are plentiful, giving them the ability to inspire others and effectively confront challenges.
Whale:
The energy of a whale is positive but at dangerously low levels. Even simple tasks tax whales, and they are sluggish in all activities.
Jellyfish:
What little energy a jellyfish possesses is negative. When acting like a jellyfish, Vogan writes, “You have such a negative attitude that you'll sting anything in your way.”
DOLPHIN ENERGY
Clearly, we’d all like to harness the energy of a dolphin. But what are the keys to sustaining high levels of positive energy?
1. Seek awareness of how various activities affect your energy levels.
2. Consciously counteract negative emotions, and ride the momentum of good feelings
3. Strategically operate amidst your strengths and passions, avoid your weaknesses when possible, and delegate depleting tasks.
Any Comments or Inputs are welcome
As the clock strikes three, you mentally pat yourself on the back for a productive day. You’ve successfully orchestrated morning meetings and have benefited significantly from a late lunch appointment. Despite a packed schedule, the past hour of emails has put you on track for two important hours you’ve guarded at the end of the day. At long last, you have uninterrupted time for strategic thinking and future planning.
Unfortunately, upon reaching the peak hours of your day, you’re hopelessly drained. Your thoughts won’t focus, and you can’t seem to concentrate on anything remotely productive. You know you should press on for a couple of hours, but your energy feels sapped. You’re zapped, and you want to call it a day. You surf the net for a few minutes, respond to some nonessential emails, and pack your bags for home.
Energy Management
No matter how flawlessly you organize your schedule, an energy deficiency will undermine your efficiency. You can master the art of time management, but if your tank of energy is empty, then all of your prioritizing and scheduling wizardry will be for naught.
In her column for Entrepreneur.com, Patty Vogan focuses on energy management as opposed to time management. As Vogan writes, “Unlike time, your energy capacity is something you can increase and renew in order to meet the challenges you face on a daily basis.” Whereas time is finite, energy can be almost limitless. Hours upon hours of free time are useless when you’re burnt-out, but even a few spare moments can be packed with productivity when you’re full of vim and vigor.
Vogan paints four pictures to describe the energy levels of leaders: a shark, dolphin, whale, and jellyfish.
Shark:
While having spark, the bulk of a shark’s energy is negative, and such a person is moments away from biting off someone’s head.
Dolphin:
The energy reserves of dolphins are plentiful, giving them the ability to inspire others and effectively confront challenges.
Whale:
The energy of a whale is positive but at dangerously low levels. Even simple tasks tax whales, and they are sluggish in all activities.
Jellyfish:
What little energy a jellyfish possesses is negative. When acting like a jellyfish, Vogan writes, “You have such a negative attitude that you'll sting anything in your way.”
DOLPHIN ENERGY
Clearly, we’d all like to harness the energy of a dolphin. But what are the keys to sustaining high levels of positive energy?
1. Seek awareness of how various activities affect your energy levels.
2. Consciously counteract negative emotions, and ride the momentum of good feelings
3. Strategically operate amidst your strengths and passions, avoid your weaknesses when possible, and delegate depleting tasks.
Any Comments or Inputs are welcome
