The Hindu Business Line : Getting fully energised and engaged

In a fully engaged state, an individual is physically energised, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose above one's own self-interest

If you are like my `avatar 2006', your exercycle will be idling in the attic. Your year-start resolve to ask for a pay raise or mend a key relationship would have remained just that. The do-it-yourself kit you mail ordered is still in its as-delivered wrapper, unopened. Holidays and an improved work-life balance continue to be stillborn, distant thoughts!

For me, 2007 will be different. Thanks to the wisdom gained from an experiential learning based on the book Power of Full Engagement authored by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz that connected me to my `inner world'.

In a fully engaged state, one is physically energised, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose that is far and above one's own immediate self-interest. Was it possible that I was masking, quite unsuccessfully, my state of partial or preferential engagement? I was disturbed.

SELF AWARENESS

A 10-minute self-administered test at www.energyforperformance.com available for free, confirmed my lurking suspicions. Somewhat still unsure of this foreboding discovery, I consulted my wife on the findings in my `report' and sought the wise counsel of our spiritual Guru.

He went over the book and concurred that full engagement is a prerequisite to realising my full potential; "reflect upon how energy is needlessly dissipated and learn to use them sensibly" said he. It was his way of saying, "Stop kidding and get real."

Spiritually blessed, we both decided to enrol for the `energy for performance' programme organised by RvaluE Learning Systems, partners of Human Performance Institute, Orlando, recently held in Chennai. We were first advised to complete a 360-degree feedback from friends, relatives, peers, subordinates and supervisors. Another section posed a series of questions on what it was that we were seeking to improve within our own selves and consequently our lives.

On the morning of the programme, blood samples were drawn followed by a KARADA scan that measured the VFI (visceral fat index), body mass index (BMI) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) to faithfully reflect the truth about the `not-so-good living' style we felt mistakenly proud about.

Soon thereafter, we wrestled with some of the `erroneous' assumptions we had surrendered our lives to and dealt with the futility of searching for `the enemy who was out there somewhere'! The accompanying table has some of the not so startling, but true revelations.

SELF DETERMINATION

Based on four simple principles outlined below, we defined the rituals for our periodic rejuvenation. Over time, they will seep into our subconscious and become the new habits that will punctuate our daily disciplines. These in turn will help develop and maintain our states of peak levels of energy across all facets of the rest of our lives.

Principle 1: Tap into all the four sources of energy.

Physical capacity for strength, endurance, flexibility and resilience.

Emotional resilience for bouncing back from experiences of disappointment, frustration and loss.

Mental endurance for sustained focus and concentration over time; contend with the rational and the intuitive worlds.

Spiritual flexibility to tolerate diversity in values and beliefs that are different from one's own and deploying the differences for the collective good of others.

Principle 2: Balance energy expenditure with energy renewal at each of the four levels.

We mistake peak performance to be reflective of brainpower alone. Physical well-being forms the foundation.

They build up sequentially, with emotional health resting above that, then mental acuity, and at the top, a sense of purpose. The ideal performance state — peak performance under pressure — is achieved when all the four levels are working together.

Nothing could be more detrimental than driving through a relentless 24x7 drill without rest, resulting in karoshi, a Japanese term for death through overwork!

Principle 3: Establish incremental stretch routines for all the four levels of energy every day.

Physical activation builds up adequate reserves to meet sudden spurts of demands of energy in the muscular system. Periodic rituals of emotional housekeeping build the capacity to cope with higher levels of stress to boost peak performance. Puzzles and perplexing challenges tone up our mental muscles to sustain our intellectual edge. Meditative introspection at periodic intervals relieves the apathy and listlessness imposed by dull routines.

Principle 4: Embrace a purpose that serves beyond the needs of just the self.

By serving a cause outside of one, we tune into the energy fields of the others and `flow' into higher realms of wholesomeness. Flowing with the vulnerability of the unknown and the serendipity of stumbling into pleasant possibilities.

In summary, a success rate of 80 per cent reported by the Institute's clients in the world of sports and business, is attributed to considering energy, not time, as the new currency and stretch as the real investment.

SELF ACTUALISATION

Can India improve upon its ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index from number 43 (The Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 released on Sep 26, 2006 by the World Economic Forum) if the workforce is not fully engaged? It is futile to hire the best talent (are you listening IT/ITES) only to leave it disengaged at work. So what if India ranked number 2 (and improving) amongst the leaders in aggregate skills certification (the US is number 1 and declining) if we merely pass all the right exams, but fail to connect at the workplace?

Regardless of one's current predicament, whether prematurely burnt-out, nursing a middle managerial menopause or on the resurgence of a second career, hope is at hand. For the career professionals amongst us gearing up for the global league, this is a timely invitation, coinciding with the New Year, for transforming ourselves into veritable `corporate athletes'.

The choice lies within us!

(The writer is Principal Consultant, Goldratt India, and offers solutions for strategic and operational excellence. Founded by Eli Goldratt, the consultancy is dedicated to a holistic approach to business management)

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