Follow the Energy

In working with leaders, I often refer to the “Three Tenets of Leadership” of:

• Set and Hold the Context
• Manage the Energy
• Coach, Don’t Play

For more on what I mean by these three tenets, read the earlier post: “Managing Energy – learning from comedians“

So much of leadership is about managing energy, both in self and with those we lead.

Today, though, I introduce the phrase “Follow the Energy”. In my training and being mentored as a coach, this phrase was repeated over and over as so key to coaching clients. It has also shown up for me numerous times over the last week, so let me use examples to explain.

1. A colleague and I have been working with a client leadership team (over Zoom in four time zones) on a Culture Project, supporting them through the holistic process of landing on the Intent for the business. Last week, in our latest call with them, the energy in the meeting began in a “flat” way, pretty neutral, not energised. We patiently teased and explored with them until the energy shifted and lifted, sparks were flying across the ether. We then matched that energy and injected some of our own with ideas and reflections. The energy was crackling along until somebody said two words that, metaphorically, shot bolts of lightning across and between everyone. They had landed on the two words that encapsulated all they are about and their “why” now and forever.
2. I was at lunch with another coach, someone with a similar background to me and who works with similar clients. We were having a lovely and relaxed lunch, then one particular question I asked saw a real shift in them behind their words, most noticeably in their eyes (as per the quote in the picture above). It was as if their heart had connected to their nerve endings, they deeply felt something in themselves that felt really important. I then asked a follow-up question, but their answer felt like one they had given before. Intellectually absolutely true to them, but energetically shielded. I then followed back to the energy they had before and asked one more question. This time everything opened up and what they shared was inspiring, energising (for both of us) and powerful.
3. In a regular weekly meeting with a client, the client felt flat and it seemed we had got into a rut, that something needed to shift for them and for their business. Now, I am known to use the phrase “slow down to speed up later” with clients impatient when we are at the stage of building a foundation for transformational change, but at the same time, I am also well known by clients as well as friends and family for being high energy. In fact, I do sometimes warn clients that, when the time is right for them, that beware when it is time to “light the blue touchpaper”, as when it is ready to drive things forward with energy and to accelerate and drive momentum, I can do that with and for them at breathtaking pace! At this meeting, it was clear to me that, around a year in to building the foundation for growth for this client, it was time to light the blue touchpaper. I shared my instinctive idea for how to do that (based on a year working with the client, plus my own decades of experience). They loved it, then we took it from concept to execution in minutes.

I hope these three very recent examples give an idea of how one can, by being fully present and “watching and listening for energy” as well as for the words spoken,. we can then “follow the energy” through our own energy, our responses, questions, advice. This is a skill to be developed so we can trust it more and more. Do try it, and if you would like to explore the idea more, am happy to get on a call with you.