Alan Humphries - FED Consultant

Terry always seems to be at the gym no matter what time of day I show up. He came fourth place in the over 65’s World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver last year. A few months ago we were on adjacent machines and I asked him about how often he goes to the gym. “Well last year they were closed for three days so it must have been 362 times.” He then added: “And never once have I left not feeling better in myself.”

This got me thinking about the Four Energies of a leader – the physical, emotional, intellectual and spirit energies – and it being our energy that as leaders we need to manage and just how remarkable it is that when we feel like we’re running on empty and we do some physical exercise we feel better. Not only do we seem to have more physical energy again but our spirits are lifted also.

As Peter Drucker says: ‘the first and foremost job of a leader is to manage her or his energy and to then help those around them to manage their energies’.

So this week take some time to reflect on how you replenish your energies. Does going to the gym do it for you? What makes you feel better? What gives you energy? And how can help others to manage their energies?

By Alan Humphries, FED consultant and coach