As demands of the workplace continue to rise, the majority of people respond to the situation by working longer hours. This will eventually lead to burnout, which costs the employee and the company. At the same time, people are taking the fuel used to do the work for granted. What is the fuel? Their energy, of course!
If you want to get more work done both better and faster, then you need to find ways to maximize energy levels. Unlike time, energy is not a finite resource. Instead, it has “springs” that feed it – the mind, body, and emotions.
Energy Renewal Program Components
Wachovia Bank was one company that tried an energy renewal program for employees. The concept was relatively easy. They divided the participants into two groups – participants and the control group. The findings were overwhelming. The participants involved in the energy renewal program had higher increases in both loan and deposit revenues.
Let’s take a look at the components of their system:
Physical Energy – The Body
The first focus is physical energy. It’s no secret that not getting enough sleep, rest, exercise, and nutrition can diminish energy levels. Still, many employees fail to practice healthy behaviors with so many other demands. Encourage employees to exercise by providing memberships or dedicated space for a “wellness room.” The other part of this is allowing your employees to take breaks often. Studies have found that those who work for a set amount of minutes and then take a break are most productive.
Energy Quality – Emotions
When you take control of emotions, it improves your energy quality, no matter how many external pressures are present. To improve this component, it’s important to become aware of why you feel the way you do at various times through the workday and how these emotions impact your effectiveness to get the job done.
Focusing Energy – The Mind
Many professionals think multitasking is a necessary skill. However, what if we told you that it undermines your productivity? It’s true! Distractions cost you a great deal of time. Any time you temporarily shift your attention to something else, it can cost you as much as 25% more time to complete the original task. It’s better to focus for 90 to 120-minutes, take a real break, and then move onto the next task.
To read more about Wachovia’s program, check out this article on The Harvard Business Review.
