Without energy, the world would come to a standstill.
It would be nearly impossible to live day to day if the world’s energy reserves were depleted. From working to driving to cooking, we have become wholly dependent on energy and it’s terrifying to think what could happen if we ran out.
But this doesn’t just apply to the energy we need to live and work in today’s tech-driven world. It also applies to our internal energy reserves.
Our brains and bodies need energy, too.
Unlike your laptop or iPhone, you can’t simply plug yourself in for a couple of hours until you are fully charged. Human beings need to preserve and replenish their energy reserves to function at maximum efficiency.
As a leader, recognizing that you need plenty of energy at work is critical. If you don’t take care of your own energy, your organization will suffer. For many leaders, finding time to recharge feels impossible, despite how critical it is.
A leadership keynote speaker can help you implement strategies to incorporate ways to preserve energy in leadership while still meeting your responsibilities. By bringing in an expert leadership speaker, you are taking the most important step toward discovering how to protect your energy and enhance your leadership performance.
Why Leaders Should Protect Energy at Work to Enhance Performance
Have you ever skipped breakfast and lunch in order to power through your tasks only to begin losing focus at work? Maybe you’ve reread the same memo three times, gotten sidetracked when attempting to make an important call or simply found yourself staring into space wondering what you were working on.
When your energy is depleted, it’s hard to function, let alone be productive.
As a leader, it is vital that you maintain high levels of energy in the workplace to successfully lead your team. While it may feel as if taking breaks is counterproductive, it is essential to not only managing burnout in the workplace but also for improving your health and well-being. When you take time to rejuvenate, you will return to work refreshed, focused and ready to be productive.
Finding ways to protect your energy is crucial because it restores your mind and body and gives you the strength needed to forge ahead through any challenges. Not only will you feel more enthusiastic, but you will also have enhanced clarity to think more strategically.
How Extreme Leaders Protect their Energy
Recognizing how important it is to protect your energy at work is the easy part. For busy leaders, following through with action steps is more challenging. With so much on your plate, finding time to recharge may seem impossible, but it is imperative that you do so.
The key strategies outlined below will help you manage burnout in the workplace, reduce your anxiety at work and build energy in leadership, all of which work together to enhance your performance.
1. Pay Attention to Your Feelings and Emotions
As much as we might like to flip a switch to turn off negative feelings, unfortunately, that ability has not yet been discovered or invented. Until then, we must acknowledge and address any negative feelings, especially those that drain our energy, in order to move past them.
Work is such a big part of our lives that it is no wonder we often have strong feelings about it. While those feelings may fluctuate between positive, negative or even indifferent, it is always important to acknowledge their existence. Taking time for yourself to focus on your physical and mental health is a big part of protecting the energy you need to manage those feelings.
Your employees rely on you to think strategically and ensure the organization is meeting its mission. By paying close attention to your emotions, you can create space to make thoughtful decisions.
Without energy, you cannot operate at an optimal level to support your team.
A simple but effective way to replenish energy is to incorporate restorative practices into your daily routine. Taking a few moments to recharge will fill you with the energy you need to perform at peak levels while being an example of positive change that motivates others.
2. Find What’s Draining You
When you’re in a toxic work environment, you may feel as if you are drowning in negative energy. Even if you recognize that something isn’t right, it is often hard to acknowledge that feeling to yourself or others because the toxicity has become so normalized.
Trust your instincts.
It is critical not to downplay or ignore feelings. Identifying what triggers you is the first step toward reducing anxiety at work. Once you’ve discovered your triggers, and how they affect your leadership performance, you can make conscious choices to disrupt them.
That starts with ensuring you are protecting your energy as a leader. Adopt healthier work practices by setting clear boundaries that allow you to rest and refuel. This will give you the space you need to come back and successfully re-engage with the organization’s goals.
3. Plan Ahead
Extreme Leaders know that life (and work) can be extremely busy and that planning ahead is the best way to ensure continued efficiency. Planning gives leaders control over their daily activities and delivers a big impact. Rather than feeling overwhelmed when unexpected situations arise, you can use your energy in the workplace to focus on important items that require your direct attention and delegate tasks that can be handled by your team.
Taking advantage of thoughtful planning is an excellent way to protect your energy at work and enhance your performance. Thinking ahead will leave you with plenty of energy left to inspire those around you.
4. Why Multitasking is a Bad Idea
Many of us were raised thinking that if you weren’t multitasking, you weren’t efficient, but that’s simply not true. In fact, there are many reasons why multitasking is bad and can cause you to lose focus at work.
As a leader, you are constantly presented with multiple tasks that are critical and timely. It may seem as if multitasking is the answer, but it is actually the least effective way to manage multiple projects.
Why is multitasking so bad? When you aren’t focused, you tend to have scattered thoughts, fragmented ideas and incomplete projects—all things Extreme Leaders need to avoid.
Instead, try working on one task at a time until it is completed. This method allows for increased clarity, greater efficiency and an improved ability to manage stress at work. It is not only more efficient, but it also sets a great example for your team, which will ultimately result in more meaningful outcomes and greater levels of productivity throughout your organization.
5. Set Boundaries
Boundaries are made to be set. Without them, life and work can quickly veer off course. But when they are established properly, they can protect your energy and elevate your leadership performance. Setting healthy boundaries allows you to honor your commitments and reach your goals.
When considering where to set your own boundaries, it is vital to reflect on what activities bring you joy and what doesn’t align with your goals as a leader.
An exceptional boundary to start with is normalizing longer response times. You may feel as if you need to answer every request quickly because of your level of responsibility within your organization, but that is not the case. While some situations require immediate attention, many don’t. Try setting more realistic expectations by letting your team know that if they don’t hear back from you immediately, it may mean your attention is needed elsewhere but that you will get back to them shortly.
6. Create a Less Distracting Work Environment
Just like boundaries are made to be set, distractions are meant to be eliminated. When you create an environment that is distraction-free, you are protecting your energy, which will result in enhanced leadership performance overall.
If you’ve set up a space that is quiet and peaceful, but you still notice yourself getting distracted, take a moment to observe your working area. A cluttered desk can be one of the biggest surprise distractions for many. Cleaning and organizing your workspace naturally boosts motivation and makes it easier to focus on the task at hand.
7. Managing Burnout in the Workplace by Taking Regular Breaks
The most impactful way to recharge is by taking a break when you feel your energy depleting. Even better, schedule time away from work each day to protect your energy. By stepping away and giving yourself a few moments to reflect and develop your thoughts, you will return refreshed and ready to innovate.
It is important that this time away is truly a break from work.
Close your laptop, ignore work calls or texts and, if possible, step outside for fresh air and exercise. This will allow you to clear your head, release stress and rejuvenate your energy. A small break has a huge impact on your ability to lead with presence and be more energized for tackling any challenges.
Steve Farber Is the Leadership Keynote Speaker You Need to Guide Your Journey
You’ve learned how crucial it is to protect your energy in order to enhance your leadership performance, and that it takes a lot more effort than just plugging in a charger. This is where a leadership speaker like Steve Farber comes in. His expert advice, real-life tips and practical strategies will support your journey toward becoming the most effective leader you can be.
Steve is the spark you need to infuse energy into your leadership and take your organization to the next level.