Technique 1.143 Energy Management Audit
Introduction
A series of questions are asked about 4 energy elements of body, emotions, mind and spirit.
"...most large organisations invest in developing employees' skills, knowledge, and competence. Very few help build and sustain their capacity - their energy - which is typically taken for granted..."
Tony Schwartz et al, 2007
Many behaviours are counterproductive:
"...Skipping breakfast, failing to express appreciation to others, struggling to focus on one thing at a time, spending too little time on activities that give them a sense of purpose..."
Tony Schwartz et al, 2007
Need to recognise the costs of energy-depleting behaviours and then take responsibility for modifying the depleting behaviours into energy-producing or conserving, ie need to create and sustain energy for use in your daily life.
Audit
Answer the below statements by ticking the appropriate column with a 'yes', 'may be' or 'no.
| Dimension |
Statements |
Answers |
||
| yes |
sometimes |
no |
||
| Body | 1. You don't regularly get at least 7 plus hours of sleep, and often wake up feeling tired | |||
| 2. You frequently skip breakfast, or you settle for something that isn't nutritious | ||||
| 3. You don't exercise enough, ie cardiovascular training at least three times a week and strength training at least once a week | ||||
| 4. You don't take regular breaks during the day to help renew and recharge, or you often eat lunch at your desk, if you eat it at all | ||||
| Emotions | 5. You frequently find yourself feeling irritable, impatient or anxious at work, especially when work is demanding | |||
| 6. You don't have enough time with my family and loved ones, and when you am with them, your mind is elsewhere | ||||
| 7. You don't have enough time for my hobbies | ||||
| 8. You don't spend enough time expressing my appreciation to others or to savouring my accomplishments and blessings | ||||
| Mind | 9. You have difficulty focusing on one thing at a time and are easily distracted during the day, especially by e-mails | |||
| 10. Your focus is on reacting to immediate crises and demands rather than focusing on activities that provide long-term value and high leverage | ||||
| 11. You don't have enough time for reflection, strategic planning and creative thinking | ||||
| 12. Your work in the evenings, weekends and almost never take e-mail free vacation | ||||
| Spirit | 13. You don't spend enough time at work doing what you do best and enjoy the most | |||
| 14. There are significant gaps between what youI say is most important to you and how you allocate your time and energy | ||||
| 15. Your work decision are most influenced by external factors, rather than by a strong, clear sense of your own purpose | ||||
| 16. You don't invest enough time and energy in making a positive difference to others or to the world |
(main source: Tony Schwartz et al, 2007)
Comments
The more 'yes' or 'sometimes' answers to statements, the more problematic is your energy management; conversely, the more 'no' answers, the better your energy management.