Shifting the Energy

So here’s the thing:  every single one of you exudes energy in some form.  And, you are impacted by the energy that others exude.  Energy is all around, you create it and you respond to it.  As a leader, it is particularly important for you to be aware of this.  Why?  Because knowing how your energy impacts those around you is vital to the effectiveness of your leadership.

“You know you’re an effective leader when the energy in a room shifts for the better when you walk in it.”  This is the first indicator of effective leadership that I listed in last week’s blog post about signs of effective leadership.  You may or may not be all that conscious of the energy you exude or create in the world.  And yet, I want to invite you to start paying attention.  What’s the impact you have on the space around you?  When you chair a meeting, how does your team respond?  When you walk into the office, what do you notice about how people respond?  Do they greet you positively?  Pretend they didn’t see you?  Cower in fear?  All of these responses are indicative of the energy you emit, and you can shift the energy so that the response — the impact — out there is positive.  As a leader, that’s what you’re looking for.

Bottom-line:  if the energy of the people around you goes flat, deflates, or decreases in anyway when you show up as a leader, you are likely not having the impact that best serves your leadership vision.  Increase your energy in a positive light, and you’ll increase the power of your leadership.  It’s a good thing.