Recharging your batteries

The old axiom that you can't be good to anyone else if you are not good to yourself first is especially true for leaders.

I attended a seminar many years ago, where the seminar facilitator likened our available energy to a pie.  He said that you could slice the pie into as many pieces as you want to, but it is a finite pie, and you have a finite amount of energy in any given day.

It was an interesting concept, but not one that I really bought into.  I think our available energy is like a battery.  There are things you do that drain your energy, but you can plug into an energy source and restore your energy.

What are your energy sources?  For me, family and friends have the ability to "charge my batteries".  Exercise is a great energy source.  Laughter will do it every time.  My dogs.  My relationship with God.  Babies.  Sleep.  It is important to identify what charges your batteries and what drains them.

You need to keep track of when it is time to plug in before your battery gets too low.  Symptoms of battery drain?  Irritability.  Snappiness.  Snarkiness.  Unkindness.  Lack of Patience.   Sadness.  Overwhelmedness.  If you find yourself needing a recharge, have a plan of action.

I advise people to have a "happy place" available at work.  It can be a collection of photographs, saved correspondence, a favorite poem or reading, a quick phone call to a special person.  If you don't have a "happy place" to recharge your batteries before you need it, you may not have the energy available to find it when you need it.

The best caretaker you have is you.   Being a leader of happy people means you invest a lot of time, energy and emotion in meeting your employees needs so that they can be successful.  On some days, that can be very draining.  Make sure you have your recharge plan in place.

And if your energy gets low and you demonstrate those symptoms of battery drain?  Make sure to apologize to anyone you have hurt, and ask for their help to alert you when you show signs of battery drain.  Showing vulnerability and asking for help are essential to real and meaningful relationships.  Don't ever be afraid to share your humanness with the people you lead.  It will only strengthen your relationship, and help you grow into an even more effective leader.