Unlock Your True Potential: Harness Your Energy and Intensity
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Chapter 1: Rethinking Time Management
Is managing your time the best approach to achieving your goals? What if the key to unlocking your true potential lies in managing your energy instead?
Focusing on maintaining clarity in your mind and energy levels can significantly enhance your performance. This isn't just a novel concept; it's a valuable insight that has been echoed in literature like "The Power of Full Engagement." Such works encourage us to assess our energy levels closely. The initial step involves pausing to reflect on our habits, followed by taking proactive measures to address any deficiencies. The crucial factor in transitioning from reflection to action is desire.
Professionals in project management understand the importance of sustaining high energy and effectively managing stress. Strategies like reducing work hours, ensuring adequate sleep, and eating smaller, nutritious meals can be beneficial. However, we often encounter resistance from within. Do we sometimes find ourselves stuck in old habits? This resistance often stems from our 'shadow self,' a concept introduced by psychologist Carl Jung. The shadow embodies aspects of ourselves that we may have suppressed or denied, including our unconscious impulses and weaknesses.
The shadow can manifest as unappealing, needy, or antisocial desires, revealing parts of ourselves that we may not fully accept. Yet, this same shadow can also be a source of stress and untapped energy. If we suppress our shadow, we waste precious mental and emotional resources, leading to exhaustion, stress, and even burnout. Tools like the Hogan Dark Side assessment can help identify potential career derailers that may arise if our shadow is left unexamined.
What does this mean for achieving higher performance?
Self-Awareness: The first step is to acknowledge our shadow aspects. Pay attention to your emotional triggers, especially in stressful situations. Stress, lack of sleep, and challenging circumstances are opportunities to explore these triggers. Strong emotional reactions can often indicate parts of ourselves that we have disowned.
Acceptance: Instead of denying these traits, try to embrace your darker side. Your shadow is an integral part of your whole being. While you don’t need to act on every impulse, approach your shadow with self-compassion. Acknowledge its existence and be present with feelings like jealousy, resentment, or greed.
Integration: Seek healthy ways to express shadow traits. For instance, if you tend to suppress assertiveness, look for suitable scenarios to practice standing up for yourself.
Energy Redirection: Channel the energy associated with your darker impulses. Recognize that your shadow embodies energy that can be redirected toward personal growth and achieving your goals. When feeling down, I often turn my sadness into a creative outlet, while I channel anger into physical activity.
The first video, "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time: A Visual Summary of The Power of Full Engagement," delves into strategies for effectively managing your energy for optimal performance.
Understanding Different Energy Sources
In addition to harnessing our inner energy, it’s essential to channel positive energy sources as well. Regular exercise is crucial—aim to incorporate both strength and endurance training into your routine. Even when deadlines loom, prioritize your physical activity.
While taking breaks every 90-120 minutes sounds appealing, many of us feel too busy. Incorporating a short midday nap or delegating tasks can seem impossible when projects are in crisis. However, like organizational change, personal transformation requires small, meaningful steps. Treat your performance and well-being as a project that requires resources and a phased approach.
Effective leaders regularly step back to reflect on their situation. By taking a moment to assess how you’re doing, you can identify ways to enhance your energy levels and adjust your habits.
Consider athletes who become fully immersed in their games. As Ronald Heifetz and Donald L. Laurie note, in "The Work of Leadership," players can get so focused on the immediate action that they miss crucial opportunities.
The practice of stepping back is both small and powerful. You can incorporate a simple daily practice that requires only a few minutes to recalibrate your focus.
One Task at a Time: Let go of the multitasking myth. Focus on giving each task the attention it deserves to maintain high-quality work and lower stress levels.
Recharge Rituals: Schedule breaks into your calendar. Engage in short walks, mindfulness moments, or simply step away from screens for a few moments.
Plan for Success: Concentrate on what is essential to navigate unexpected challenges while keeping your priorities clear.
Saying 'No' to Say 'Yes': Learn the art of respectfully declining requests to maintain focus on your priorities. This practice helps establish healthy boundaries.
Our energy is deeply intertwined with our physical well-being. Learning to process intense emotions enhances our energy levels. Taking a moment to step back allows us to reflect on our thoughts, providing a mental reset. Psychological health is directly connected to energy; when our work aligns with our values, it energizes us.
Do you draw energy from the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of life? Consider what each of these areas needs attention in your life right now.
If you're looking to enhance your organizational change management skills, explore my books, "The Change Manager's Companion" and "Remarkable Organisational Change Communications," both available now. Additionally, consider enrolling in my online Change Management course.
The second video, "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time - A Leader's Guide to Energy Management," offers insights into energy management specifically tailored for leaders, providing practical strategies for better performance and well-being.