IT Management Slideshow: IT Management: Tips for Energizing Your Teams

What is organizational energy?

It is the extent to which an organization, division or team has mobilized its emotional, cognitive and behavioral potential to pursue goals.

Five signs that organizational energy is low:

Increasing departuresAbsenteeismBlown deadlines Reduction in quality of workPoor customer satisfaction

Collective energy

Leaders must focus on unleashing collective energy, as opposed to individual energy.

Collective energy

Why? A collective, dynamic force of energy within an organization or department is much stronger than one energetic individual.

Three organizational energy traps

Trap 1: Complacency. Lulled by success, members lose alertness, passion and readiness to go the limit.

Three organizational energy traps

Remedy 1: Create existential threats and compelling opportunities in a constant, ongoing manner.

Three organizational energy traps

Trap 2: Corrosion. Success breeds resentment as employees feel left out of rewards and/or derailed from essential, future roles. Trust of leadership, and alignment with organizational goals are threatened.

Three organizational energy traps

Remedy 2: Designate a handler who can help you define the root cause of resentment. Work to re-channel negative energies into positive ones to achieve meaningful goals for the entire group.

Three organizational energy traps

Trap 3: Acceleration. Success fuels leaders to seek ever more, overwhelming employees and ignoring their individual needs and limits

Three organizational energy traps

Remedy 3: Orchestrate high-energy phases and regeneration phases. After a high-speed push, allow time for low-energy assessment, celebration, or a preparation period for refueling.