The Spread of Energy Influences Work Performance - Part 3

Did you realize that you are a source of "relational energy"?

I discovered this concept - the hard way - years ago.

It was the early days of my career as a working professional.

I worked at a non-profit organization holding down the roles of administrative assistant and mid-level manager.

I was fortunate to work with a small team of passionate, hard-working, and dynamic people.

I was also fortunate to learn more about myself in the process.

The major lesson that I learned about myself was that...

When I became irritated by something or someone, 

I operated from a bad mood which permeated the room like a dark cloud on a rainy day!

Everyone was affected by the energy!

Or should I say, "infected by the energy."

It became hard to bear for those who worked with me.

I was eventually called on the carpet about it.

I was told that my attitude was so bad that people didn't know how to interact with me.

("Good," I thought, "That makes less people I have to talk to!")

I was told that my colleagues and team members felt like they had to walk on eggshells around me. 

("So, what!" I thought, "That's their problem!")

I was told that my attitude created such a heavy energy in the room...

That working in a three-room office without windows made it hard to escape its draining effect.

(I thought, "Are you kidding me? Seriously!")

I was given the instruction to work on my attitude.

The ultimate request was for me to learn how to shift the negative energy, so it did not bring down the entire office.

Initially I thought, 

"What nerve!"

"Forget them!"

"I don't care what they think!"

Oh, I sat with those thoughts and the feelings they brought for a few days...

Until I eventually had "a come to Jesus moment"!

I realized that my pattern of behavior which created such a heavy energy in the workplace was the same pattern of behavior that I used with family and friends.

Let's just say that even my family and friends were walking on eggshells, and tired of my bad attitude and negative energy, too.

LOL 🤣🤣🤣

I can laugh about it now.

But it was no laughing matter back then!

I was mad.

I felt insulted.

I believed that I was stuck.

How do I make the shift?

What can I do so I don't lose my job?

Interestingly enough, I did a strategy provided by the Harvard Business Review article, "The More You Energize Your Coworkers, the Better Everyone Performs."

I'll share that with you in a later post.

In the meantime, I want you to think about yourself.

Are you bringing positive "relational energy" into your workplace?

Or are you doing as I did, bringing negative "relational energy" to your coworkers and stifling workplace performance?

Share your thoughts.

Until our paths cross again, I want you to...

"Stay on the rise by finding joy in every moment!"