When our brains/minds register things that are important, our bodies experience stress responses.
The more important the topic/outcome is to us, the higher the stress.
The less control we feel/believe we have over the outcome, the higher the stress.
Spirited Leaders consider the following strategic things to be quite ‘important’:
- Talents & Strengths
- Values & Master Rules [Courage, Confidence, Conviction, & Creativity…and the rules that support these things]
- Vision/Purpose
- Goals
When individuals’ Talents & Strengths are ignored or sidelined, those individuals will tend to experience energy-draining stress. All else being equal, when those individuals’ Talents & Strengths are put to good use the individuals will be invigorated.
When individuals’ Values & Master Rules are challenged or violated, those individuals will tend to experience energy-draining stress. All else being equal, when those individuals’ Values & Master Rules are embraced the individuals will be invigorated.
When individuals’ Vision/Purpose is ignored or contested, those individuals will tend to experience energy-draining stress. All else being equal, when those individuals’ Vision/Purpose is supported the individuals will be invigorated.
When individuals’ Goals are ignored or contested, those individuals will tend to experience energy-draining stress. All else being equal, when those individuals’ Goals are supported the individuals will be invigorated.
Considering these points, leaders have choices:
- They can work to drain people’s energy
- They can work to invigorate people
- They can be oblivious to the things that drain energy and invigorate
Knowing all this, what do you choose?