Mike Barnato

use high energy well

I previously posted on the four most common challenges facing leaders. A follow up post was on self awareness of leaders. It is vitally important for leaders to be aware of their own peak energy levels  and how they vary over the day. The idea is to make the best use of your best time, because the quality of time matters as well as the quantity of time.

For example:

• Jeff Herman commented that energy levels are themselves affected by interest in the topic
• Dan Doherty said that he now realised he was structuring his day around peak energy levels
• Jane Wharam, who wrote “Emotional intelligence, Journey to the Centre of Your Self” (which I recommend), pointed out that self awareness is about being honest with yourself
• Wendy Reeves commented on the importance of turning feelings into actions and habits

Of course you also need to adapt to the energy levels of colleagues. Here are some examples: 

• I worked with the Head of a large law agency on organisational change. He arrived at the office at 7.30 am, so most mornings we had 20 minute review session over coffee.
• I was responsible for delivery of an IT portfolio. The programme office staff liked to start at 10 am and work into the evening. I liked to start early. We found away to use both sets of peak energy.
• The owner directors of a financial services company never seemed to make decisions. I realised that the Executive Chair, the main business getter, was at his peak between 4 and 7 pm, by which time the other Directors were fading.

Awareness of your own energy levels and that of others’ energy levels is also important in other fields:

• Think about relationships (“he’s falls asleep at night”) and
• Parenting (what does it tell you when a child says “I’m not tired”?)

Picture 27/12/2009 Saint-Nazaire