WorkStyle Tip - Identify Energy Leaks

Where are YOU leaking energy? When we take the time to get up close and personal and identify our energy leaks, we can then choose to do something about them. Most of us are running around leaking (sometimes haemorrhaging) energy every day. Spend 15 minutes this week to identify YOUR Energy Leaks . Use the What Fuels You assessment to assess the quality of your sources of energy. Notice where you are gaining or loosing energy. Where are you leaking energy? With this knowledge, you can start to do something about it, ideally calling  your energy home.

Simply notice without judgment, holding yourself whole, competent, and resourceful to redirect your energy where and when you choose to do so. Once you have identified your energy leaks, you will begin to recognise ways to close them and regain work life balance. Each time you close an energy leak you become more focused, clear, and balanced. Be patient, be honest, and you will soon develop the momentum to live your life in a more satisfying manner. 

You can also use the Discover Your WorkStyle Guide and the Design Your WorkStyle Guide to assess your energy.
 

Spotlight on... Mark Bergin

I’m an entrepreneur working in the online space. I have a vast background in creating experiences for audiences and I do this for both large and small organisations. In addition to my professional life, I’m a keen sailor and explore my personal artistic interests through photography; love a good conversation and exploring new ideas and places. My most recent project is called re-think, a strategic review process to see how to get more out of a website and be more relevant to customers. When I’m not doing that I’m tied up organising the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival.

How would you define your WorkStyle? (work + lifestyle = WorkStyle®)
My WorkStyle is to do things without panic or drama – I enjoy the experience of creating new businesses and have no time for panic and stress.

How did you discover your WorkStyle?
I had spent many years working and not enjoying it. I knew there was an opportunity to return to a work life that I enjoyed so I needed to move away from the things that detracted from that. I took a Buddhist approach where I tipped out everything and only added back in what I valued; the things that mattered to me.

Has it changed over the last few years? Why?
Things have changed for me as I’ve begun to focus on my needs and my values. For a long time I was occupied with other’s needs and this meant I had to let my values rest rather than live a life that matched my values and rewarded me for being true to myself. I’d say I’m still learning more about this - it is a continual learning pursuit.

What has been your biggest shift?
Taking the time to think. I had been busy for so long and the time to think wasn’t always there. When I took that time I found the answers were clear and simple, but only when I reduced the amount of BUSY-ness in my life.

What one WorkStyle practice has had the most impact? Why?
Daily, I take 30-60 min of nothing time. Some would call this meditation, however I don’t use a chant or a mantra – I just clear my mind and then listen to what comes through when there is emptiness in my mind. I suppose it’s about listening to your subconscious rather than reacting to an active, busy mind. I’ve found this is very useful as it lets me understand what my values are trying to tell me.

What are or have been the biggest issues for you around WorkStyle?
My biggest challenge is remaining content with my work and community tasks to ensure they are aligned with my values. When they’re not it’s either about working to shift things so they are aligned or being graceful as I remove myself from roles that are not true to my values. This requires constant monitoring and also some every skilful diplomacy as it wouldn’t be right to make people feel bad because of my value decisions – these are my choices and values; they aren’t necessarily the other persons, so I tread lightly.

What tips would you give others to improve their WorkStyle?
Empty out your life so your true values can come through. Be honest to your values and you’ll find an inner strength and energy that will help you do more, feel more content and have a stronger spirit and energy for others. It’s never too late to take a re-think of the situation and work out what’s next. I always say to people “It’s what we do now that makes a difference.”

Smile

I smile because when I met Mark he was the epitome of a workaholic. WOW, hasn't he changed? I truly acknowledge him and his willingness to re-think his life.

Speaking of Mark, I get many comments and feedback on the quality of my websites  www.merrymentality.com.au and www.belindamerry.com  They look great, are easy to naviagate and add loads of value for visitors (download, quiz's, fun, documents, some free, some exclusive to clients).

If your website needs a new set of eyes or ideas, then I highly recommend re-think, Mark's latest product which helps us review our online strategy. For those of you who already have a website and know it is out of date, tired, or simply needs a re-think, do visit re-think to explore what options are available to you. Recently I have added a new e-commerce facility and right now I'm moving to an even easier CMS (content management system).
 

Thank you re-think!
 

Update from Belinda

Speaking of Holiday Planning, our trip to Indonesia in July/August was so successful that Don and I have booked time in Lombok for July 2010. He has the remainder of his long service leave to take, unlike most Australians who have 123 million days of Long Service Leave accrued. Have a look at merrymentality's killer stats. These stats are mindboggling... feel free to use/quote them in any research or proposals you may be doing. I update them regularly as I keep my eyes out for latest research and knowledge.

On this theme, my questions to you are:

• How much Long Service Leave do you have accrued?
• What about Annual Leave/Vacation days? How many of these do you have owing?
• What is your workplace's policy on accruing Leave?
• What are you doing to do about taking your owed leave?

I look forward to hearing from you (wbd@merrymentality.com.au) in regards to your Holiday Planning. The time is ripe and the next article gives you the Eight Great Tips to do so.  In the meantime, I wish you a sensational summer holiday if you are located in the Southern Hemisphere, and a warm winter for those WorkStyle by design readers in the north.

Eight Great Tips to Holiday Planning

Firstly, it is critical that you schedule in your holidays at the beginning of the year. This may be December/January for readers in the southern hemisphere, or July/August for our northern hemisphere readers.

Secondly, remember the story about putting the rocks, pebbles and sand into a jar. If we put the rocks in first then we can fit in the pebbles and sand later. In this case, think of your holidays as rocks. For many of us this will be something new. Sure, work project and family may be rocks, as may your well-being (gym, yoga, sport) but holidays? Well, yes, holidays are rocks too. We need to create new neural pathways to make holidays rocks.

Thirdly , schedule the dates for your holidays, breaks, mini-breaks, school holidays, public holidays in your calendar. Work around public holidays and school holidays (if you have children you will want your holidays to coincide with theirs; if you don't have children you will want to avoid school holidays!). Now you have your holidays scheduled, you have something to look forward to. Anticipation is a great thing. Just knowing you have a break coming up – be it a week on a tropical island, or a weekend at a Bed & Breakfast; there is a psychological effect in knowing that there is a circuit breaker on the horizon.

Four:  You may or may not know where you are going for your holidays. Now is a good time to start talking about, listening, reading, watching and researching where might be possible. This adds to the anticipation of the actual event. Your Reticulating Activation System (RAS) will be on alert for 'holiday ideas'. Already I'm ripping news articles out of magazines if they mention Indonesia, Lombok or Sasaks (the indigenous peoples of Lombok who make delicious food!)

Five: Here is the essence of this exercise.... very importantly, actually take your holiday. Enjoy it. You have earned it.

Six :  Now you have something to reminisce about. Whenever I see an article or documentary on Bali or Lombok, I am drawn to it, knowing I was there 4 months ago and will be again in 2010. WorkStyle by design long term readers may remember that I have friends who threw a party a couple of months after they returned from their dream holiday in Paris. Their party has a French theme – food, outfits, decorations, and champagne of course! They had their photos on a rotating slide show on their laptop and it was a great way for them (and us guests) to relive their Parisian experience. It is also good to share with family/friends/colleagues/clients who may have been to that desitation too. You can reminisce about restaurants, activities or even how much the destination has changed since they were there. Bali, Indonesia is one of those places that many Australians have been to so we can compare crowds, restaurants, shopping and of course, the magnificent scenery.

Seven: As a coach, I have to ask "What obstacles do you face in planning and actually taking holidays?" "Why do one third of Australian’s take no vacation each year." As you’ll read in the killer stats there are numerous reasons:

• Tourism Australia launched the "No Leave, No Life" program this year, 2009. They say Australians are so addicted to work that they have accrued 123 million days of annual leave which equates to about $31 billion dollars of unspent revenue. Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson told reporters here recently that too many Australian workers were not taking annual leave. "I scratch my head at times and wonder: why do employers allow that leave to accumulate?" he said. "Their liability goes up because wages and salaries go up ... Employees who go on holiday spend quality time with their family and friends, they come back to work better workers."
• Many organisations have a Culture of Presenteeism. So long as you are seen at work you are thought to be doing a good job. This is out of date as most successful organisations focus on the outcome of the work - not the hours you put into it. The rise in telecommuting, working from home and working virtually testify to this. Yet in organsisations with the Culture of Presenteeism, employees wear their 'days owing'  like a badge of honour.
• Then of course there is the belief that the business cannot cope without me! This belief, that we are not replaceable, we are pivotal to the organisation is actually Magical Thinking. It is simply not true! You just are not that powerful!
• Other obstacles to taking holidays may be "What will clients think?" (especially if you are a small or micro business). "I'm not worth it/worthy to have a break". "I've got no one to go on holidays with".... etc... what are YOUR obstacles to taking leave?

Eight:  Remember that nature, seasons, athletes - all have down time, renewal, recharge and time to RE-CREATE. Yet, society, especially in developed countries is running 24/7 and expects us to be UP or ON all the time!

Take a stand and use these Eight Great Tips to Holiday Planning ... you will thank yourself for it.