‘Please take responsibility for managing your energy…..’

So read the sign in the back of the pizza van.

It caught my eye and although I couldn’t see beyond the word ‘energy’ I imagined that it went on to say ‘when you come to work’. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked the guy making the pizzas what the notice went onto say behind the pile of serviettes. Somewhat bemused and rather begrudgingly he moved the pile of serviettes over. It went on to say: ‘when you come into this space.’ The words energy and space were written in bold green, the rest in black ink.

This got my daughter and me talking about one of the key pillars of Future Engage Deliver, of the importance of managing your energy and helping others to manage theirs. She commented that indeed the guy could do with a bit of managing his energy as he seemed rather miserable. We went on to talk about the importance of taking responsibility for how we show up and the impact that this can have on other people.

All of this reminded me how important it is that we take responsibility for our energy when we enter any space, be it at home or at work – and what a difference it makes when we do take responsibility for our energy.

Take a moment this week to notice the different spaces that you walk into and the energy that you are bringing. Are there some spaces that you enter without thinking about your energy and impact? What is the difference you could make if you were to think about your energy and impact as you enter into these spaces?

By Anni Townend

Learn more about the author of this article, Anni Townend