Journalist interviews us on emotional energy in the workplace

We were interviewed yesterday by a writer for one of the biggest business magazines.  This happens a lot, since we do a lot of consulting with businesses on strategic and organizational issues, as well as working as advisers to senior management.  This time we were asked about the effects of work on our emotional energy.  This is a huge issue that we first wrote about in The Emotional Energy Factor. 

And it’s even more important now.  With so many people unemployed and with businesses so reluctant to hire, workers are being forced to do more with the added fear that they can be easily replaced.  Not a good recipe for high emotional energy, but fortunately there is a lot we can do about it.  Here’s the interview:

In the workplace, what are the three biggest drains on our mental energy? 

CHI:  I’d like to say, bad bosses, bad bosses, bad bosses.  But let me say that the biggest drains are bad bosses, distractions, and a feeling of frustration and meaninglessness about one’s work. 

Why do they tap us out so much?

CHI:  It’s good to have a balanced effort-to-reward ratio.  If you go on vacation, maybe planning the trip and flying are a hassle (high effort), but once you’re there you have a good time (high reward).  At work, most people are willing to put out a lot of effort.  But the one thing that bad bosses, distractions, and a feeling of meaninglessness and frustration have in common is that you get nothing back but your paycheck from your effort.  And we now know that people want a sense of reward or satisfaction from their work.  When the effort-to-reward ratio get out of whack, our emotional energy goes down.

Is there anything we can do to counter them?

CHI:  Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that there is nothing you can do about a bad boss except get the hell out of there.  Ask for a transfer or look for a new job.  I know this is a tough job market, so you may have to suck it up for a while.  But you will in the end either have to get a new job or get your boss a new job, and guess which is easier! 

As for distractions, you have to be proactive.  Take email.  Set aside one or two times a day for email, but otherwise ignore it.  Remember: every time you let email interrupt you, it takes you a surprisingly long time to get back in focus.  That’s wasted energy which drains you. 

As for the sense of meaninglessness and frustration, that’s tougher.  You have to sit down with a good friend or advisor and figure out what the cause is.  The problem could be anything from your being in the wrong career to your needing a good motivational speech.  Often once you know what’s causing the way you feel, you can talk to your boss (if he’s a good boss!) and get a bit of a job redesign which can make all the difference.  For example, the issue could be your need to set your own goals and determine your own workflow.  That could make a huge difference. 

Are there particular emotions that drag us down more than others? For example, it seems to me that resentment must be a big one–since it is kind of pervasive (you’re always aware of the injustice or unfairness perpetrated by the person or institution you resent). Do you agree, or are there other more damaging emotions? And if so, what is the best way to deal with it?

CHI:  The big three dragging-down emotions are resentment and discouragement.  Resentment is about someone unfairly getting something you don’t have.  If the situation really is unfair, something should be done about it.  It’s not necessarily all in your head.  But if it is in your head, you need to see that resentment is a losing proposition.  The world is full of people some of whom have better deals than we do, some worse.  One thing is for sure: other people’s lives usually look better on the surface than they are from the inside.  It’s a lock that if you switched places with the person you resent, it wouldn’t seem as great as you think.  As for discouragement, the two things that help the most here are allies and new directions.  You need advisors who suggest new ideas for you and work with you to set you in a new direction.  That will make all the difference. 

On the flip side, there is malaise or depression. I always find that when I’m bored or uninspired by my work my energy level is low. How do those type of emotions factor in, and what’s the best way to deal with them?

CHI:  Malaise or depression either come from within or are caused by something not working in your life.  If it’s your work that gets you down, SHAKE IT UP.  That could be literal: every 15 minutes get up and move.  It may be that you need to vary your work more.  But it may be that you’ve outgrown your job.  Boredom is often a sign that it’s time to move on.  If it feels more like depression than boredom, you should really talk to a professional. 

I recently took a meditation class and have resumed my practice, so I’ve been thinking a lot about how our thoughts influence our energy level. This is kind of a complicated topic to write about in such a quick, news bytey-format, but one thing I’ve noticed is that many of my thoughts are basically .. repeats. Does stewing about the same old problem, or even just thinking the same tired old thoughts, affect our energy level? And if so, what do you recommend to counter that?

CHI:  Our energy level is totally affected by our thoughts.  Do this: examine your thoughts over the course of a day, starting from when you wake up in the morning.  Thoughts are like a tape running in your head.  What’s on the tape?  Is it constantly something negative or discouraging?  Then your thoughts are bumming you out.  So you need new thoughts!  Suggestions: the bumming out thoughts are about how you are not OK.  Fine.  Don’t fight them.  But make sure to give equal time to positive thoughts about how you are OK or are going to be OK. 

Also prayer and meditation are great.  Meditation is a focus on no thoughts or on one thought.  It is hard.  Prayer can be great because it is positive and can help you feel not alone.  And there have been interesting studies that show that even agnostics and atheists can and do pray and get a lot out of it.  If you’re not religious, think of prayer as talking to the universe.  Just remember: prayer is not just asking for stuff.  Prayers of gratitude, or meditation on something you’re grateful for, can do wonders for your emotional energy.

Is technology an energy suck? All the constant interruptions from email, smart phones, etc.? Is there a way to put technology on  your side, energy-wise, rather than have it be the enemy? 

CHI:  I just got an Android X smartphone, so I’m hardly an enemy of technology.  But frankly digital technology is almost always a huge net energy drain.  Hey: no one promised it wouldn’t be.  It can help us do more or do different things, but it never promised to make life easier.  For most people, technology just means more to do.  Solution:  UNPLUG a couple of hours a day and one day a week.  Just do it!

What about interruptions from people? I’ve heard many people complain that they can’t concentrate a work because someone is always popping in their office saying “Got a minute?” Is there any evidence that shows that these kinds of interruptions sap our energy?

CHI:  Some of the highest energy people I know are the ones who can most easily say NO.  So do that: just say NO.  Think of it like this: every time you say NO you give yourself the gift of a wheelbarrow-full of emotional energy.  Honestly.  Say NO.  (By the way, technically speaking emotional energy is measured in wheelbarrow units.) 

In terms of boosting energy, do you have any quick tips for how we can keep our levels high?

Mental exercises? 

CHI:  Waste of time.  Do your work, then do what you want to do.

Dealing with co-workers?   

CHI:  Just say NO. 

Physical exercises? 

CHI:  As much as possible. 

Anything related to diet? 

CHI:  Eat smaller quantities more frequently.  The less sugar and caffeine you take on board, the more energy you’ll have—a lot of low emotional energy is our crashing from sugar and/or caffeine highs.

Organization/clutter? 

CHI:  This is personal.  If it’s not a big deal for you, don’t sweat it. 

Other tips:  Do one thing nice for yourself every day.  Make sure there is something beautiful and/meaningful in your work space.  Always have something to look forward to.  Think hard about what you do to give to yourself, and make sure you do give to yourself.  Hint: nothing digital will ever later be experienced as a real gift. 

Any other thoughts or questions I haven’t asked?

CHI:  No one is born with emotional energy.  The biggest discovery we made for our book The Emotional Energy Factor is that people with high emotional energy are that way because they keep doing things to raise their emotional energy.  And anybody can do these things.  YOU can do these things.  And if you do, you’ll have just as much emotional energy as any one else. 

Posted: Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Category: Relationships, News & Notes, Emotional Energy, Decision Making, Uncategorized
Author: Mira and Charles
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