Go Where the Energy Is

I am a HUGE fan of Lisa Haneberg. Her books inspire me to be a better manager, a better leader, and a better person. Her articles remind me of what’s REALY important to keep in mind as a manager.

Her recent article Go Where the Energy Is really struck a chord with me:

…seeing the glass as half-full is an advantage because it allows us to be ready and open for more possibilities. And it is more pleasant – for us and for those with whom we interact. We can blindly move through the world hoping for the best or we can be more targeted and improve our odds of being delighted. This is where going with the energy comes in.

This is how I live my life and my job: targeted, yet half-full and open to the possibilities that I can, and my team can, achieve more. Admittedly, this frustrates me sometimes because I know we can do more, I know we can BE more…but I don’t know how to crack into that nut. It’s one of the reasons I keep writing here on Slacker Manager, even when I’m not sure I have much more to explore in the management arena. I try to share what I see with the eyes of someone who hasn’t seen it before, instead of writing as a jaded manager who’s been there, done that.

I still have a LOT to learn about being a better manager, and I still have a LOT to share with you.

I’m going to go where the energy is, and keep writing about the half-full side of management. If you came here looking for an old grizzled manager who wants to whine about all that’s wrong with Generation Y or about how a lack of resources is miserable, keep on going somewhere else. I’m going to stay where the energy is, in the sweet spot of half-full management.

What about you?

Are you managing half-full or half-empty?

Glass half full or half empty photo credit to Misserion