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This series covers the 12 Habits of Effective Entrepreneurs. Click here to view previous articles.

Habit #5 – Energy

“The power is out.”

“The internet is down.”

“We’ve run out of gas.”

“The tires are flat.”

“The battery is dead.”

“The air conditioner is broken.”

“There’s a leak in the main water line.”

Each of these statements indicates a disrupted energy flow. And when these happen, it impacts comfort, momentum, and productivity.

Energy disruptions are, at minimum, an inconvenience or annoyance. If they extend over a long period of time in the midst of serious circumstances, they can be devastating.

This is why one of the most important keys to successful entrepreneurship is energy.

In business, energy is everything. The energy of the leader, the team, and the customers and clients are all necessary to the flow of the business. If energy disruptions are not prevented or quickly addressed, it can be detrimental to the business.

This is why it is important to address each facet of energy in a business.

Leadership Energy

As a leader, are you purposeful in managing your own personal energy? Or do you work 100 hours a week, sacrificing all other aspects of your life for your work? Do you over-deliver to your team, your clients, your family, and your community without addressing your own needs?

Your business and your team need you, as the leader, to have strong energy. This means you must take time to purposefully restore your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional energy at regular intervals. You need to be sure your energy is not only expended, but also regenerated. This helps to prevent burnout, which is a common malady amongst entrepreneurs; and, in fact, a main reason many cite for quitting the business they once loved.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your current level of energy in each of these four areas (physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional)?

What one action can you take to restore your energy?

Even small actions count, and those done with regularity are key. Take some time to list those things that energize you. This will be different for each person and dependent on your personality. But having that list and regularly doing something on that list will help you restore the energy you need to be a strong, effective leader.

Team Energy

Good leaders also pay close attention to the energy of the team.

• Have they just put it all on the line for a major initiative?
• Have they gone through a challenging time recently?
• Are they being pulled in several directions due to family, holiday, and seasonal obligations?

Any of these will draw down on your team’s energy banks.

As a leader, you will want to be aware of company, team, personal, and external factors that affect the energy of your team. Recognize that the ebb and flow of energy is normal and work with it. For example, after a major initiative, give your team some quiet admin time to wrap up loose ends and regroup. Or after a major national upheaval as we have had in recent years, give your team support for adjusting to different schedules and demands, for example. If you notice a team member has not taken any time off for a long time, encourage them to do so.

If you want a loyal, dedicated team that will stay with you over the long haul, consider both the energy expenditure and the restoration factors.

Customer Energy

Just as your energy and that of your team has an ebb and flow factor, so does the energy of your audience.

For example, there are seasonal energies. One leader failed to recognize this. He pushed hard with a sales campaign targeted at the time of year when most people are in holiday and reflective mode. He suffered the consequences, not only in lost sales but also in large numbers of unsubscribes from his mailing list. The people spoke loudly by their actions, and the message was clear: Pay attention to the energy of your people and the timing of your promotions.

Instead of pushing out ads and promotions on your schedule, consider the timing and needs of your audience. How can you best serve their needs, and just as importantly, when?

Energy is not optional. It is essential.

What is your energy plan…for yourself, for your team, and for your customers?

• Are you managing the load on the power grid?
• Do you have contingency plans in place to allow for downtime?
• Do you have a written plan for regular energy restoration?

As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer, and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, and using the Maxwell Method, Deb helps leaders and teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results