A Coaching Power Tool Created by Antonio Novais
(Wellness Coach, PORTUGAL)
We will make this power tool simple to use.
“The second is the duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom.”[1] How consistent or fluid is it to you?
“Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work”[2]. The SI unit of energy is the joule (J), “the work done when the point of application of 1 MKS unit of force (newton) moves a distance of 1 meter in the direction of the force.”[3] How fluid or consistent is it to you?
How does that sound? Wait! Don’t give up now! I invite you to spend some TIME reading this tool. Or shall I say, spend some ENERGY reading this tool.
If we ask you, readers: “How much your work or life demands have increased in the last 2 years?” Your answer would probably be, a lot. And if we ask: “How much do you expect your demands to increase in the next two years?” Once again, your answer would probably be, a lot. Being aware of this scenario, most part of the people start thinking that they have to do something about it and they immediately design a plan to liberate an extra hour for work, maybe asking aunt Kelly to pick up the kids at school, or waking up an hour earlier every morning, or leaving the gym “until things get better”. Some will even sign for a Time Management Workshop, so they can learn how to use their time effectively.
That seems a good solution for these challenges, however the demands of the workplace will keep rising, and people will continue to respond by using the same old paradigm, which means, by putting in ever longer hours, which might lead to burnout[4] that costs energy and money to the organization and the employee. Let’s take a look at the following case.
Antonio’s Case
Antonio is a Group Executive Officer at a bank. Some years ago, by September, while working 16 hours per day, he had begun to have problems sleeping, as his workload grew amid concerns about the euro zone crisis. By October the trouble had worsened and he took a few days off work to try to get some sleep – but ended up not sleeping for five consecutive days. A few days later, after a health crisis, he had to take medical advice and checked himself into a clinic because of the extent of his sleep deprivation. Antonio had to take a two-month absence from work and the bank share price fall by nearly a fifth during this period.
When he returned to work he said he had learned the lessons from the period that led to the leave of absence to deal with “fatigue”. Today, Antonio works no more than 12 hours per day, he avoids working at night and on the weekends and has 2 hours per day free of appointments, for urgent matters or to think. He says that he has learned to “listen” to his body and that feeling his intellectual capacity slowly diminishing has been imprinted in his DNA. “I was like a battery going to zero,” says Antonio, “You know when a computer battery says it has 7 per cent power remaining, 6 per cent and then it suddenly dies. I needed recharging.”
By learning about this case through the press, we got aware that, consciously or unconsciously, Antonio has made a shift from the perspective of time management to the perspective of energy management. No matter what we do, the day will always have 24 hours (let’s keep it simple), which means that time is a finite resource that we can use, and there is no such thing as recovering time – once it passes, it’s gone forever. But if we consider energy, that is a different issue. Energy can be replenished, and used all over again. Energy is an internal resource that is in our hands to control and manage; time is an external resource that we can never stop, the tick-tock goes on and on.
No Time Issues?
We can also consider that you’re one of those persons that have no time issues. You manage it well, and you can even invest some of your time reading this power tool. The irony is that managing time efficiently is no guarantee that you will bring sufficient energy to whatever it is you are doing. An example of this is “presenteeism”[5] that is receiving extensive attention on corporate settings and has an enormous invisible impact on costs. Significant factors in influencing presenteeism are hypertension (stress), heart disease, arthritis, depression/sadness, mental illness, allergy, migraine/headache, diabetes, personal financial difficulties, work-related stress and perceived pressure to attend from either managers or co-workers. As Loehr & Schwartz (2003) wrote “The ultimate measure of our lives is not how much time we spend on the planet, but rather how much energy we invest in the time that we have.”[6]
For these two authors, embracing a new paradigm, or perspective, for human performance is key for a well balanced life, where we all have significantly more energy to invest at work, with our family, or whatever we want to do. An increase in energy will provide an opportunity to bring all our talents and skills to full ignition and to sustain high performance over time – a condition that they call the Ideal Performance State[7].
Teya Skae (2008) refers that it’s ironic to realize that the “new paradigm” of managing our energy is not really new. In fact, its foundation lies in the wisdom of the ancient texts of traditional Chinese medicine, a self contained 5000 year old system for living in harmony. This body of ancient wisdom recognizes that energy is the fundamental principle of life, and if it is not harnessed or renewed, major struggles, symptoms and imbalances manifest in our daily life[8]. To prevent from this scenario, we all need to skillfully manage our own energy creating the conditions for what Loehr & Schwartz (2003) have called full engagement. To be fully engaged means that we are physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose beyond our immediate self-interest. In other words, we have that daily eager feeling to get to work in the morning and an equally happy feeling to return home in the evening, and being capable of setting clear boundaries between the two.
Loehr & Schwartz (2003) state that full engagement requires drawing on four sources of energy:
…What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention… Herbert A. Simon, Nobel Prize Economy 1978
Of course, we all can perform successfully even if we smoke, drink and weight too much, lack emotional skills or lack a higher purpose for working or living. But we cannot perform to our full potential without a cost over time – for ourselves, our families, and to the corporations for which we work.
In short, to sustain high performance over time, with no consequences, we need to address it considering ourselves as a whole (what a surprise!), and shift from a time perspective to an energy perspective.
How can we do that?
Self-application
Think about self-care. Clients feed off the energy of a well-cared-for coach, experiencing greater movement and change than they otherwise might. The better we as coaches attend to our own needs, the better we can attend to the needs of our clients. Self-care is a way of living that incorporates behaviors that enable us to maintain personal health and balance, replenish energy and motivation, and grow as a person.[10]
Loehr & Schwartz (2001), propose that growth and development are part of a dynamic that moves in both directions, starting on the base of the Performance Pyramid and going to the top, and that the change occurs from the top to the bottom of the pyramid.
Bringing some clarity to this, we rely on physical energy, or capacity, to keep our body functioning and be able to support the other sources of energy. The Ideal Performance State is achieved when all levels are working together. The efficient management of energy is accomplished when we oscillate between energy expenditure (stress) and energy replenishment (recovery), as a wave in motion, and by using high precise consciously routines (rituals) that link the levels of the pyramid. “For instance, vigorous exercise can produce a sense of emotional well-being, clearing the way to peak mental performance.”[12]
The Change Process
Start by asking yourself:
If answering to these questions, or others that make sense to you, take you to the desire of embracing the energy perspective, then perhaps you want to follow this three-step change process, starting from the top of the pyramid.
Define purpose
To make changes in life we need inspiration. We challenge you to answer to the following questions:
Creating a compelling vision and connecting to a deep set of values fuels a source of energy for change.
Face the Truth
Where are you today? It is impossible to chart a course of change unless you are able to look at who you are today. We invite to answer to one of these two free on line assessments:
- Power of Full Engagement Self Profile
- The Energy Wizard©, from Gloria Silverio
Take Action
Take action to close the gap between who you are and who you want to be, between how you manage your energy now and how you want to manage your energy to achieve your vision.
It is time to put in practice a self-care plan. This step involves building a personal development plan grounded in positive energy rituals. Nurturing your body, your environment, your relationships, and your spirit is a vital part of maintaining good health and a vibrant life, and is a key factor in having the strength and motivation to continue to give to your clients[14].
Some of the rituals for energy replenishment are:
Build up rituals that positively affect your well-being and quality of life. Start by making a list of ways you can practice self-care. Include both small things that don’t take a lot of time or money (e.g., a soothing bubble bath) and others that might need more time and planning (e.g., a week at a spa). Pick one or two activities you want to start with and put these activities into your schedule, just like another appointment. And treat it as though breaking this appointment is not an option!
Coaching Application
What can we as coaches do for our clients? Clients feed off the energy of a well-cared-for coach. So, just for being present, we can help the clients and the reason for that lies in what scientists call the open-loop nature of the brain’s limbic system, our emotional center. Scientists describe the open loop as “interpersonal limbic regulation”; one person transmits signals that can alter hormone levels, cardiovascular functions, sleep rhythms, even immune functions, inside the body of another.[15]
If a client gets to you saying that is working long hours to “get things done”, that he become short-tempered with colleagues and family, that he has no time for play or exercising or even sleeping, in short, no time for himself, and asks you to help him on this topic.
Ask some exploratory questions:
At this point you might feel a change on the enthusiasm of the client, a change of energy, so you can say:
Take the client through the three-step change process:
Define purpose
He who has a why to live for can bear with almost anyhow.
It’s the start of “The Hero’s Journey” for the client to find meaning and purpose, the most powerful energy source – in service of what matters most. The outcome is a declaration of intent about how the client will invest his own energy, a vision statement.
You can use the following vision tool[16]:
Face the Truth
Some questions you can ask to the client:
Take Action
The truth may set you free, but it won’t take you where you need to go…[18]
To manage energy successfully the client has to oscillate between expenditure moments and recovery moments by creating rituals (routines). Rituals translate the values and the priorities into action. One important approach to help the client remember his intention is the formation of a plan. An action plan specifies the ritual that will be performed at a certain time or situation.
Based on what boost client energy, explore with him what small or more elaborate things he can do to replenish his energy, as rest periods, diet, exercise activity, spending time with family, helping others, pauses during the day, play time, etc. Ask for his commitment and how will he chart the progress. Accountability is a means of regularly facing the truth about the gap between his intention and his actual behavior. Make sure there will be times for celebrating the achievements.
Reflections
- What experiences did you recall while reading this power tool?
- When do you feel most energized?
- What structures can you put in place to take better care of yourself?
- What can you do to energize your client during a coaching session?
- What is the one thing you can do today that will boost your energy?
Bibliography
Goleman, D.; Boyatzys, R.; McKee, A. (2007) Os Novos Líderes: A Inteligência Emocional nas Organizações, Gradiva, Lisboa
Goleman, D.; Boyatzys, R.; McKee, A. Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance. HBR OnPoint
http://physics.about.com/od/glossary/g/energy.htm, accessed in 11 February 2014
Moore, Margaret, Tschannen-Moran, Bob (2009) Coaching Psychology Manual (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))
Loehr & Schwartz The Making of a Corporate Athlete The Harvard Business Review, January 2001
Loehr & Schwartz (2003) The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal The Free Press. New York
Skae, Teya; Manage Your Energy vs Time Management; http://www.naturalnews.com/024962_energy_life_balance.html#; accessed in 11 February 2014
The International System of Units (SI), Ed. by B. N. Taylor and Ambler Thompson, Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 330, 2008 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, March 2008).
[1] The International System of Units (SI), Ed. by B. N. Taylor and Ambler Thompson, Natl. Inst. Stand.
Technol. Spec. Publ. 330, 2008 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, March2008).
[2] http://physics.about.com/od/glossary/g/energy.htm, accessed in 11 February 2014
[3] The International System of Units (SI), Ed. by B. N. Taylor and Ambler Thompson, Natl. Inst. Stand.
Technol. Spec. Publ. 330, 2008 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, March2008).
[4] “Burnout can be viewed as a process including different stages. Usually job stressors lead to physical / emotional exhaustion, followed by depersonalization and a cynical attitude toward the job. The burnout process often ends with aversion to everything, feeling of despair and guilt. However, burnout stages may develop also sequentially and may be a result of high demands and low resources.” (Korunka, Tement, Zedrehus & Borza)
[5] “Presenteeism” is a term that can be associated with three meanings: 1) people attending work even though they are sick; 2) putting in long hours but not working all the time; and 3) working at a reduced level due to other distractions such as browsing the Internet or playing games, in Australian Public Service Commission Managing Presenteeism APS Human Capital Matters Issue 5 June 2012. Australian Government.
[6] Loehr & Schwartz (2003) The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. The Free Press. New York
[7] Loehr & Schwartz The Making of a Corporate Athlete. The Harvard Business Review. January 2001
[8] Skae, Teya; Manage Your Energy vs Time Management; http://www.naturalnews.com/024962_energy_life_balance.html#; accessed in 11 February 2014
[9] Loehr & Schwartz (2003) The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. The Free Press. New York
[10] Moore, Margaret, Tschannen-Moran, Bob (2009) Coaching Psychology Manual (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))
[11] Loehr & Schwartz The Making of a Corporate Athlete. The Harvard Business Review. January 2001
[12] Loehr & Schwartz The Making of a Corporate Athlete. The Harvard Business Review. January 2001
[13] A vision is a compelling statement of who you are and what behaviors you want to do consistently.
[14] Moore, Margaret, Tschannen-Moran, Bob (2009) Coaching Psychology Manual (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins))
[15] Goleman, D.; Boyatzys, R.; McKee, A. Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance. HBR OnPoint
[16] Wellcoaches® – Vision Coaching Tool
[17] Loehr & Schwartz (2003) The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. The Free Press. New York
[18] Idem