Ever wondered what really makes your company thrive? It thrives based on the viability of its energy centers. The energy centers are the sources of success, creativity, productivity, effectiveness, satisfaction, and joy as well as their opposites. The centers generally operate silently, unbeknownst to all concerned, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Knowing about the energy centers can positively impact the productivity and profitability of the company and the satisfaction of the employees and customers. Let's look at the seven energy centers, what depletes them, and what you can do to revitalize them.
The first energy center, Company Culture, is the basis for all operations. Within this center is where you find the history, the traditions, the teachings, the often unspoken expectations and the unwritten rules about how employees behave. This is where you find the core values of the company. Veteran employees usually take on the unofficial responsibility of maintaining the company culture. A major event or series of events is usually required to shift the culture. Changing the culture is painstakingly difficult.
The energy in this center is depleted where there is a strong attachment to the past, the way you've carried out business before. The depletion comes from an unwillingness to change and evolve, and it comes from fear of the unknown. It stifles creativity. It discourages new employees from staying with the company.
To revitalize the energy in the Company Culture Center, continue to hire new people with new ideas. Encourage creativity at all levels of the company. Create new traditions. Take what's valuable from your roots. Think of the company as being evolving and dynamic. Examine your core values to determine congruency with how the company really operates.
The second energy center, Relationships, is created throughout the company in each and every relationship, including those with co-workers, managers, executives, vendors, customers, and shareholders. Every employee brings their own energy into the company -- either contributing to or detracting from the work. The quality of relationships are reflected in productivity, profitability, employee morale, customer satisfaction, and shareholder pleasure.
The energy in this center is depleted when there are unresolved conflicts, resentments from old and fresh wounds, unspoken communication, a lack of respect, petty differences, and a lack of teamwork.
To revitalize the energy in the Relationships Center, verify that your people have the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to nurture their various relationships. Expect them to resolve conflicts, letting go of resentments and petty differences. Encourage open communication and conscious cooperation. Create a conducive environment for mutually beneficial relationships.
The third energy center, Power, comes from a variety of sources. The expected 'authority' lies in the executive and management levels. There are also many natural leaders that emerge daily that influence what work is done, how it's done, and when it's completed. Influential power is most often more potent than any positional power.
The energy is this center is depleted when power is misused. Hidden agendas drive the decision-making. Employees are uncooperative and non-communicative. Management is non-responsive. Employees aren't empowered to do their work. This depletion is highly detrimental because the energy required for a power struggle is unavailable for use in more productive ventures. It negatively impacts direction and momentum.
To revitalize the energy in the Power Center, make sure there's clear recognition of who's in charge. Expect each employee to work with others without hidden agendas that deter them from getting the work done. Empower each employee to make decisions about their work and to be responsible for all aspects of their work. Investigate situations that occur when you observe that undue deference is given to another.
The fourth energy center, The Heart, is the foundation for how your company cares for its people. People want to be recognized for their efforts. They want acknowledgment of the talents and skills they bring to the company. They need understanding when personal challenges arise. Although the caring of people is usually relegated to the Human Resources Department, caring must be the responsibility of everyone for the Heart Center is the collective soul of the company. A genuine interest in and consideration for the concerns of the people is essential.
The energy in this center rapidly depletes when the employees feel the company doesn't care about them, respect them, or understand their needs. Performance, productivity, and loyalty suffer. Absenteeism, tardiness, turnover, low morale, and excessive use of the healthcare system are often symptomatic of a depletion in this center.
To revitalize the energy in the Heart Center, nurture and support your employees. Expect everyone in the company to be thoughtful, considerate, and caring. Recognize them for the contributions they make. Create an environment that is conducive for putting forth their best effort. Respect your people. Be reasonable in your expectations of what's required to get the job done and the time-frame within which it needs to be completed. Keep in mind they have lives outside of work.
The fifth energy center, The Will, is how the company operates and is the most obvious. Within this center lies what your company says it does and what it really does. When there's congruency, profitability increases. Within this center, the company operates in alignment with its purpose. There are functional systems, processes, and procedures in place. Operations are streamlined for efficiency and effectiveness with minimal risk to employees and profits.
The energy in this center is rapidly depleted when the operations of the company are dysfunctional. Without appropriate systems and processes, it takes more time and energy for any work to be completed. If the company espouses one level of operation and functions on another, the employees will be frustrated and disgruntled, productivity will decline, customers will be less satisfied, and profits will be lower.
To revitalize the energy in The Will Center, check the systems, processes, and procedures to assure their appropriateness, efficiency, and flexibility. Communicate the purpose of the work to each employee so they can understand the value of what they're doing. Verify that employees have the business knowledge and support they need to carry out their work.
The sixth energy center, Vision, is absolutely essential for the longevity of the company's work. Everyone in the company must share the same vision about where it's going and how it will go about fulfilling its purpose. When everyone shares the vision, they feel more ownership and accept more responsibility for what happens on a day-to-day basis.
The energy in this center is depleted when there's a lack of clarity about where the company is headed or an absence of a well-thought out resilient plan about how it's going to get there. If not fully engaged in the visioning process, employees lack enthusiasm for the company and their work. They only go through the motions to get a job done. They don't view their work as contributing to the greater whole.
To revitalize the energy in the Vision Center, involve employees in the development of the company's vision. Disseminate it. Refer to the vision in inter- and intra-office communication. Celebrate the vision. Create opportunities for the employees to feel ownership with it. Revisit the vision on a regular and timely basis.
The seventh energy center, Connection, is how the company is connected to the world of business and to the world at large. It's thinking globally. It's engaging in activities that contribute to the greater good of the world. Connection evolves through business and community relationships as well as accepting environmental and social responsibilities.
The energy in this center is depleted when the company tries to operate in a vacuum that it creates to protect itself. Energy is depleted when the question, "What are we doing to help make this a better world?" goes unasked. Energy is depleted when the only focus is profitability without contributing to society.
To revitalize the energy in the Connection Center, ask the question. Take action to make contributions. Support your employees in their volunteer efforts. Sponsor schools and social agencies. Mentor a struggling business. Honor your global counterparts. Develop relationships that go beyond the bottom-line.
When the company's energy centers are healthy and fully functional, the company operates in alignment with its purpose and vision. When the centers function at an optimal level, strong and dynamic forces are created that can take the company to the next level of integrity, business savvy, productivity, and profitability. So if you want your company to fully thrive, consider a thorough investigation of its energy centers. Then act upon what you learn.
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