Over the years, countless studies have been carried out, articles and books have been written, and courses have been created on how best to manage our time – how we can manage our time most effectively to get the most done, and how to achieve the greatest levels of productivity in the time that we have available.
More recently, though, there has been much more attention paid to the management of our energy levels, both physical and mental. Physical energy pertains to Employees’ ability to participate well in meetings, and to use tools and operate machinery at work. Mental energy pertains to Employees’ ability to focus, pay attention, think creatively and to motivate themselves at work.
This shift really came into sharp focus during the pandemic. Working from home for many people meant juggling care for family members, homeschooling, maintaining the home, and carrying out work in less-than-ideal locations. Aside from giving ‘time management’ a whole new meaning, it shone a very bright light on the need to manage our energy. Even if we were able to allot time for all of these juggling duties, it didn’t necessarily mean we’d be left with energy for all of them when the time came.
Now that most of us are back in the workplace or now working more of a hybrid arrangement, and our family members routines are back to ‘normal’, the importance of energy management is still at the forefront of conversations around workplace effectiveness.
Why Do Energy Levels Matter?
Many of us were raised to understand that we needed to “push through”, even when we’re tired or when things are getting tough, which is certainly appropriate advice in many cases. However ‘pushing through’ doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll produce brilliant results – just that we will produce… results.
While we may always strive to do our best at all times, energy levels really do matter. When energy levels are high, Employees make better decisions, work more efficiently, focus for longer, and think more creatively in their work. When energy levels are low, there is the risk of distraction, illness, burnout, and higher Employee turnover.
We’ve learned that having the time doesn’t automatically equal having the energy, so we should take advantage, wherever possible, of our highest energy times, to produce our best results.
Managing Energy Levels At Work
It is generally assumed that we will be more effective first thing in the morning than we will be late into the evening, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. We are a mixture of early birds and night owls. Some Employees will naturally hit the ground running first thing in the morning, while others may not spark into productive life until their third cup of coffee in the afternoon.
Therefore, creating any strategies for managing energy levels in your workplace should involve conversing with Employees on an individual level, rather than setting out a blanket plan based on assumptions. Here are four tips for helping to form such a strategy.
Check on Energy Levels
Ask Employees the question; “When in the day do you feel you work at your best?”; it may take a while for Employees to feel comfortable to offer totally true responses due to the fear of potential repercussions.
At random intervals, ask Employees how they feel in terms of energy at that moment.
Their answers could give you a good insight as to when the majority of Employees feel the most energised and effective, while also pinpointing individuals who may have alternative high energy periods that could be utilised in better ways.
Identify Energy Boosters Vs Energy Drainers
Going even further with questioning, you can ask Employees what boosts their energy, and what drains their energy.
Typical energy boosters include:
- Work that brings a sense of satisfaction;
- Learning, or having opportunities to learn new things;
- Working with people whose company they enjoy; and
- Fun or engaging activities within the workplace.
Taking steps to increase these boosters is essential for maintaining motivation and high energy levels.
Conversely, typical energy drainers include:
- Work that feels mindless or inconsequential;
- No opportunities to learn, grow or try new things;
- Working with difficult or unpleasant colleagues; and
- Meetings for the sake of having meetings, whose content could have been an email.
Taking steps to minimize or eliminate these energy drainers will go a long way toward achieving the energy levels needed for a harmonious and productive workplace.
Lessen Routine, Add a Little Random
Routines are generally good. They set expectations, make habits happen, and can help us to automatically make good decisions. However, too much routine can kill energy and enthusiasm. For example, many organisations hold the same meetings on the same day, at the same time, at the same location, and in the same format as every other week. This can be convenient, but it can also make them less effective as attendees lose interest.
Where routine isn’t essential, consider replacing it with a little ‘random’ – change up the location or format of a meeting. Instead of sitting round the table, make it a conversational stroll if the weather allows. Instead of routine Zoom meetings, check in on Employees individually only if and when necessary, and only schedule meetings when something actually needs to be discussed as a group. This avoids the problem of attendees mentally switching off because they’ve heard it all before or believe that the content is unlikely to involve them directly.
Having fewer routines can leave room for creativity, opportunities for flexibility, and look like a reduction in bureaucracy. This style naturally helps people feel more energised at work.
It’s Not All About The Workplace
While we can help boost energy levels, eliminate energy drains, and work within optimal high energy times, not all energy is obtained from the workplace itself.
One Employee may find that they have greater energy for their role when they are able to balance their working hours with spending plenty of quality time with family.
Another Employee may find that their energy levels are greater when they can start their day with a peaceful morning routine or exercise routine, without the need to battle rush hour traffic or check email before they reach their desk.
As Employers, we can impress on our Employees the importance of finding insights into who they are, and what they need to form the anatomy of a good day for themselves, whether it is a work day or otherwise. We can also encourage them to consider what their professional and personal goals are, and how their role in the organisation contributes to that. Knowing and controlling these factors as much as possible can have a huge impact on energy levels and motivation.
Conclusion
The more energy we have, the more we are willing to do, and the more we can accomplish. While managing factors such as time, talent and engagement are always essential, managing energy levels in the workplace can have an incredible impact on productivity, Employee well-being and the overall success of an organisation.