By Tim Lavis, Strengthening Business Facilitator, Kangaroo Island
Energy in business is critically important. Often it can be the difference between having a successful business or a failed one. Business growth comes from energy. Just as fire needs oxygen, a business requires energy to grow and develop.
The leader’s role is to maintain energy within themselves and the business. This is vital to understanding how to create and protect the energy within. Just like a battery that goes flat over time, the energy in the business needs constant attention and top up every day.
Energising the business can come in many forms. There are countless examples and ways to lift energy. Here are a handful of tasks that, if done consistently, will help improve the energy in your business:
- Talk to the purpose and vision often. Paint a picture of your aspiration for the business and why it does what it does. This helps inspire your team to dream of the possibilities.
- Spend time walking the floors to listen and connect with your team. Great leaders understand the power of walking the floor and hearing firsthand from the group. By walking and talking to the team, you become more connected and, if done with the right intent, will lift the motivation and energy of the team.
- Celebrating success is a crucial part of people feeling like they belong and helping the business achieve. When leaders share daily success, it shows care and understanding of what people are adding to the business. This creates a belonging while also showing someone’s worth to the other team members.
- Active listening is a dying art and great leaders understand that their team gains energy from being a sounding board. My tip here is to find the EMU in the conversation. Uncover the Emotion, the Meaning and what is Unsaid. This will take the connection you will have with the people in your organisation to another level.
These are not hard to do. However, the power is in consistently delivering to drive energy and motivation within the team. Many business leaders start but do not commit and follow through for long periods. You will then see the difference in the team’s energy and work delivery.
Be the oxygen in your business every day.
