I thought self-awareness was something for dope-smoking hippies. It doesn’t matter how you feel. Just do your job. But, a lack of self-awareness limits leadership.
Self-management requires self-awareness. Self-awareness enables you to monitor and manage personal energy. Managing personal energy is the essence of self-management.
Energy for the second step comes from taking the first.
Coaching-leaders ignite positive energy by helping others identify and take first steps toward desired results. Progress creates energy; stagnation drains it. The more you believe you’re moving forward, the more energy you have. But, lack of progress produces “why try” attitudes.
Long-term failure propagates itself. Coaching-leaders design projects around a series of small wins and celebrations.
Identify positive goals; take imperfect steps forward. All you need is reasonable confidence that your behaviors won’t cause harm. Just try something that seems likely to help.
Stephen Covey writes, “When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.”
When others believe you care, energy increases.
7 energy insights:
1. Action produces energy.
2. Your energy bleeds on others, for benefit or detriment.
3. Results depend on energy.
4. Results produce energy.
5. High energy is happiness; low is discouragement.
6. Complaints, stagnation, and blame drain energy.
7. You are responsible for your energy.
How might leaders manage and monitor personal energy?
How might leaders ignite and fuel energy in others?
