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You can’t lead with an empty tank.
16 energy drainers:
- Incomplete tasks.
- Responsibility without authority.
- Proving you’re right rather than seeking best solutions.
- Following urgencies rather than priorities.
- Pretending you’re something you aren’t.
- Feeling alone and disconnected.
- Procrastination. Go do that dirty deed before it does you in.
- Negative people and complainers.
- Reactive rather than proactive living.
- Incompetence both in you and others.
- Living for the approval of others.
- Uncommitted teams.
- Unmotivated individuals.
- Being taken for granted.
- Backstabbers and gossips.
- Bitterness and resentment.
Bonus: regret.
Thanks to the Leadership Freak Facebook crew who inspired the list of energy drainers.
16 ways to fill your own tank:
- Develop the team around you.
- Trust someone.
- Humble yourself to a trusted advisor. Find someone who listens to the things you really think but don’t feel you can say.
- Hang with can-do rather than can’t-do people.
- Begin asking, “Does this matter?” Do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.
- Find a brag buddy and share your successes and accomplishments. Brag buddies celebrate; they don’t diminish or out do.
- Stop something without starting something new.
- Hire a coach. Mine is Bob Hancox.
- Build friendships outside your organization.
- Finish a task.
- Spend time in self-reflection.
- Change a routine.
- Breathe deeply.
- Pray.
- Create gratitude lists.
- Forgive.
Bonus: sleep.
Treat yourself like you matter because you do.
What drains your tank?
How do you fill your own tank?
Post in a picture by Larry Coppenrath: Running on Empty
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Tags: Growth, Leadership, Leadership Development, mental-health, Organizational Development
April 23, 2012 at 8:43 am |
Great list of drainers and refuellers Dan. So true. Difficult to pick ones that hit home most as they have all cropped at some time or other, but #3 and #5 on the drainers are ones that I have worked hard to shake off. I like #5 and #11 on the refuel list. Thanks for this.
April 23, 2012 at 11:44 am |
Thanks for stopping in today Louis,
I’m partial to asking, “Does this matter?” Most of us spend too much time on insignificance and not enough on matters of importance. It’s easy to do… just let life happen and it fills up with meaningless drivel.
You have my best,
Dan
April 23, 2012 at 10:38 am |
What a fantastic list! Boy did I need this today. Thank you, thank you!
April 23, 2012 at 11:45 am |
You have my best Nancy!
April 23, 2012 at 11:39 am |
From a really solid list, my favorite: following urgencies rather than priorities – such good advice!
April 23, 2012 at 11:47 am |
Hi Catie,
I’m all about that one too. I found when someone rushes up to me with something that MUST be done immediately” a simple question helps. “Can it wait till this afternoon?” I’m amazed that most of the time they respond, “Yes.” Usually, by the afternoon that pressing urgent matter is already solved or doesn’t matter any more.
Best,
Dan
April 23, 2012 at 5:10 pm |
Play….seriously play! Whether at work or off-work, carve out the time to ‘re-create’ your self and refill your tank.
April 23, 2012 at 6:49 pm |
If you aren’t serious about fun, it won’t happen! Thank you Doc!
April 23, 2012 at 7:46 pm |
I enjoyed reading this article. Your energy drainers are spot on. Running on Empty is similar to Developing a Flat Battery and the solutions to that affliction ( see http://www.rhodan.com.au/avoid-flat-battery-syndrome/) can also be applied to ensure that your tank doesn’t get empty in the first place.
April 23, 2012 at 8:39 pm |
Another great post by the leadership freak! I always enjoy your posts.
April 24, 2012 at 3:20 am |
Dear Dan,
The list is exhaustive ones. They drain your tank and sucks your energy. When I do not follow my routine or time table, it drains me. When I see lot of work pending, it drains me. It keeps on draining unless you work upon to finish the task. I always start to fill my own tank. When you do not realize what you are doing, it drains more. So, a feeling of achievement is something that is needed to fill up tanks. In the organizations, where people are not connected to the vision, even if they work and achieve target, feel drained out. I think draining out or filling up our own tank is the matter of internal sense of accomplishment. When our effort makes sense, we feel filled up otherwise we feel drained out.
April 24, 2012 at 7:56 am |
This should be framed on every leaders wall and reviewed daily
April 24, 2012 at 8:31 am |
Thank you Dan. I needed this…..and it went right in.
April 25, 2012 at 5:02 am |
great post #11 energy drain resonates with me in my past
a few things that help me regain energy is
Having the courage to say ‘No’ now and again
Influence what I can and accept what I cant influence
Look for the positive in a crisis
Don’t sweat the small stuff
April 27, 2012 at 10:53 am |
What is refilling my tank is “change” and “hope”. Always being driven with hope and new challenges that change life around keeping us moving from step to another, feeding life in solid objects.