Re-Energizing

I recently returned from a marvelous vacation that included a cruise in Europe. The time away from the intensity of a new environment and responsibilities allowed for a “cleansing of the mind” in regard to day-to-day engagement with clients and colleagues after an intensive orientation process. I was cognizant of my advice over the years to colleagues, associates, and coaching clients about the need to become mentally rejuvenated; advice easily given, but not so easily followed.

Spending time with my wife doing things we might not routinely do also contributed to an ability to look at future opportunities with new perspective and hope. Being a leader in an organization brings a responsibility to constantly renew the energy and efforts toward our corporate goals and initiatives. In order to do that, we need to be both mentally and physically at our best, and that won’t happen unless we do as my mother used to tell me, “Remember to take care of Andy first.”

Without occasional respites, it becomes difficult to continually engender the passion and energy that our organizations need and expect. The passion expressed by the senior leadership of any organization should generate the ongoing enthusiasm for each employee’s personal fulfillment about what they are doing and how they contribute to the organization. We all know individuals whose energy pervades the room and encourages us as individuals to achieve more than we ever thought we could alone: the essence of team motivation.

Is it always possible to experience something as explicit as a cruise to cause this reflection? Absolutely not. Those major opportunities come along rarely. But an occasional golf game, a weekend with family (or in my case grandchildren), or participation in an organization that allows one to give back to others not as fortunate -- all can give one the opportunity to pause and reflect on what is important in life. It also can rejuvenate what it is that caused us to be in the profession we’re in and reinforce our personal priorities in life. The result is a happier and more fulfilled individual that others want to be around.

That alone creates energy for leadership!

Andy Allen