Sustain HIGH PERFORMANCE by Managing Your Personal Energy–April 2012

Posted by on Jun 4, 2012 in Coach's Corner-Blog

sales – “COACH’S CORNER”

April 2012

–How to sustain HIGH PERFORMANCE by managing your personal energy—

 

A number of years ago I read a book that changed my life because it taught me how to stay fully engaged, operating consistently at full thrust, while maximizing my performance and productivity.  The book is titled: “The Power of Full Engagement”, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.  A recommended read that will improve your life if you suffer from running on “E”, find yourself in a rut or feel like life/job is mercilessly pulling on you from every angle.

Below are the highlights.  It is an important message for our team because with all that we have going on and all the expectation I have of you and this team, you most likely are feeling some pressure. 

The book in a nut-shell:

  1. “It is the management of energy, not time that gives us the ability to increase our productivity and performance.”
  2. Balancing Stress and Recovery.  A short break every 90 to 120 minutes is critical to being able to recover in order to maintain long-term full engagement.  In order for us to expand capacity we must allow ourselves to recover intermittently to renew our energy.
  3. The secret to sustaining full engagement is to be able to draw energy from four separate but related sources:  physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
  4. Physical energy management strategies:
  • Go to bed early and wake up early.
  • Go to sleep and wake up consistently at the same times.
  • Eat five to six small meals daily.
  • Eat breakfast every day.
  • Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
  • Minimize simple sugars.
  • Drink 48 to 64 oz of water daily.
  • Take breaks every 90-120 minutes during work.
  • Get some physical activity daily.
  • Do at least 2 cardiovascular interval workouts and 2 strength training workouts/wk.
  1. Emotional energy renewal strategy:  have at least one good friend at work.
  2. Mental energy renewal strategy: 
  • Be physically active.
  • Visualize your desired outcome.
  • Prepare yourself for your future challenge.
  • Positive self-talk.
  1. Spiritual energy renewal strategy:  Discover your core values and have a purpose beyond your self-interest.  Have the courage and conviction to live by your values.
  2. Routines and rituals = habits, habits bring confidence, energy renewal and increased performance.  Having a daily routine, i.e. – getting up at the same time, working out at a set time, eating at set intervals, etc…serve as anchors in our life.  Rituals like taking a 3 to 5 minute walk break every 90 to 120 minutes allows us to intermittently recover.  Routines and rituals become habits and good habits get us through difficult circumstances.  They provide a level of comfort, continuity and security that frees us to improvise and to take risks.

As we push hard going into the second quarter take some time to think about the above and implement some of the strategies discussed.  Remember, your energy is limited and must be renewed in order for you to get the most out of life and give the world the full YOU!