Leadership and Self: Keeping your battery charged

For most of us it is Summer time, time for getting away, even if it's just for a little bit.  The idea of vacation is to allow our physical and mental beings to unwind, drift away from the every day stresses of our professional lives, reconnect with family and friends, and to recharge our batteries so that we can return to work fresh and ready for more.

Unfortunately, most of us are unable to get away as often as our batteries require.  The time between recharging can seem just a little too far at times.  So, it is important that professionals and leaders alike recognize the signs and need for recharging.

Like any battery, it will last a long time and function well if it receives a stable recharging environment.  People are the same.  If we reside in a work environment which provides more of a drain than a charge we will soon find ourselves without much power in our batteries. 

Some obvious signs of drained batteries are: 

• Low enthusiasm
• Failing commitment
• Compliance issues
• Slow moving work/projects
• Mistakes in work
• Absenteeism
• Employee turnover

By just looking at some of these symptoms we can quickly see that these all have a direct relationship to organizational performance.  As professionals we should have as part of our personal warranty the responsibility of recognizing within ourselves when our batteries are becoming drained.  Allowing these symptoms to manifest allows risk to be introduced to our areas of responsibility.

As leaders we need to recognize these symptoms as well.  Leaders have the greatest influence of organizational work environment.  If your people are showing symptoms of fatigue then action must be taken, quickly, to resolve the situation.

Here are a few simple ideas to consider when addressing battery drainage on a personal level:

• Be honest with yourself about your state of charge.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help with a jump start.
• Realize that a heavy load can drain your system so plan for appropriate recharges.
• Support others who might be showing signs of battery drain by either taking some of the drain off them or by providing a boost.

Leaders should consider: 

• Are loads applied to workers so that there is a balance of drain and charge?
• Since every battery has a different level of load capacity, are we matching the battery with the load correctly?
• What mechanisms are being applied to provide periodic recharges?
• What would you do if your entire group needed a jump start?

Charges can be simple things.  Think about recharges the same way you would a battery.  A system which continuously provides for battery charging during operation ensures the sustained operation of the battery.  Simple things like public recognition of accomplishments, opportunities for training, monetary reward, time off, and most importantly a culture which values people provides the ongoing charging needed to sustain performance.

Jump starts are those occasions when someone's battery has been completely drained and they are in a state of paralysis.  It certainly does not mean the system won't work again if provided a little encouragement.  Providing encouragement is not only the responsibility of leaders, but also that of every other member of an organization.  By telling someone that you believe in them and you know they can do it, might just be the jump start to get back into the game and allow the system to recharge them.

Then there are those deep cycle charges.  This is when an organizational member is completely burned-out and just does not have the energy to contribute.  Historically, these people have been the folks that got the job done, burning the candle at both ends, and sacrificing their own well-being for the organization.  In my perspective, the organization owes them big time.  First, for allowing them to get in this state.  And second, to bring them back to life.  A deep cycle recharge will be different for each individual, but may contain a mix of vacation, training assignments, special projects, public recognition, and other opportunities.  Most importantly, the solution must include encouragement.

Now, get out there, do good things, and keep your batteries charged so you can sustain your mission.