3 Powerful Ways to Energize Tired People
You’re a black hole when all you think about is what you need from others.
Energize tired people by pouring fuel into their cup.
How to suck the life out of good people:
- Set high expectations and express gratitude reluctantly.
- Give direction – neglect respect. Drain people by saying, “I don’t care what you have to do, just get it done.”
- Don’t honor hard work.
- Only show up when there are problems. “Seagull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, then fly out.” Ken Blanchard.
3 ways to energize tired people:
#1. Explain what matters.
Meaning kindles energy. People hate meaningless work.
- Know what matters.
- Explain what matters.
- Reward what matters.
- Repeat what matters.
Write a paragraph explaining what matters today. Does your statement energize you? If not, write again. Reenergizing people goes beyond getting stuff done.
Repeat your energizing message until you’re sick of saying it. Then say it some more.
Purpose fuels passion.
#2. Learn from others.
You drain people when you constantly tell them what you think. You energize people when you seek their input. Ask, “What do you think?”
Use the plural when seeking input. Don’t give the impression you’re going to follow every suggestion. Say, “I’m seeking suggestion(s) about this situation. What do you think?” After they respond say, “Thanks for saying that. I’m generating a list of options. What else comes to mind?”
Listening invites engagement.
#3. Focus on improvement.
Problem-centric leaders are energy vampires. Shift your attention toward improvement. Examine problems just long enough to understand them. When things go wrong, ask:
- What are you learning?
- What do you need to stop doing?
- What will you do differently next time?
Energizing people is the heart of successful leadership.
Which idea in this post sparks your energy?
What could you do today to recharge tired people?
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“The Vagrant,” challenges leaders to discover authentic leadership through structured self-reflection.
Unstructured self-reflection can slow leadership development.
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