Nurturing our energy
Leading a major change in a company requires the enthusiasm and commitment of many people over what can be a long period of time.
The problem? Transformations often start with a big vision, lots of excitement, and plenty of initiatives—only to end up realizing that energy doesn’t keep up.
To maintain the energy and engagement of our teams, we first need to nurture our own, to take care of ourselves. That puts us in a role-model position, encouraging others to do the same. But that’s often easier said than done. After falling ill last week, I realized just how hard it was for me to say stop, to allow myself the time to recover!
When people say “take care of yourself”, it usually implies “Eat well, exercise, sleep properly”, and sometimes “turn off your smartphone.” But if we already know what to do to look after ourselves, why is it still so difficult?
Taking care of ourselves for us, not for others
That was the first realization that helped me reschedule my meetings until I felt better. If we order a salad at a restaurant or go jogging every Sunday morning just to post pictures on Instagram #healthyfood #healthylife, we’re not really taking care of ourselves—we’re taking care of our image. And our image isn’t what needs energy! Focusing on nutrition, sleep, and health for ourselves alone, not because society tells us to, even if the actions look the same, has a very different impact.
In the same way, when we have free time, we often feel obliged to read a book, watch a movie, or “develop our mind.” If that’s what we feel like doing, great. But sometimes, what we really need is to do absolutely nothing, and it’s important to give ourselves permission to do just that.
Sleeping well or just taking a nap?
Our brain never really stops working; it just functions in different ways depending on what we’re doing. And what it does while we nap can be incredibly useful. Just before falling asleep, the brain wanders through recent ideas, weaving new connections. According to legend, Thomas Edison used this very technique: whenever he felt stuck, out of ideas, he would sit in his chair and relax. Just in case, he always held a small iron ball in his hand. If he drifted off, the ball would fall and wake him. At that point, he could either use the idea he had just had, or start the process again!
How to fit exercise into a packed schedule?
Our mental energy is closely tied to our physical energy. If we don’t feel fit or comfortable in our body, our mind won’t be eager to feel well either. But going to the gym, or even putting on sneakers, requires blocking time in the agenda, which isn’t always possible. If your office doesn’t offer a climbing wall, you can always suggest one! In the meantime, other solutions exist. For instance, holding a meeting while walking. This can even boost creativity: studies show that the farther away an object is, the more abstract—and therefore more creative—our thinking about it becomes. Physically moving to a more distant place can trigger this different mode of thinking and help us solve problems in new ways.
Our energy isn’t the only one that matters
Our team invests as much as we do in evolving and transforming. Becoming more effective and higher performing also requires more energy! If we struggle to sustain our own energy, chances are our colleagues face the same challenge. One of the manager’s key roles is to help the team look after itself. Spotting people who work too much and encouraging them to leave earlier or take time off, managing and debriefing tense moments, these are everyday management actions needed to move the team forward sustainably. We can also create team-building moments to strengthen bonds and communication. I recently tried an “escape game” and absolutely loved it! The idea: in a small group, you must find clues and solve puzzles to escape from a room.