Energy matters. What you say is obviously important but so is the way you do it. Your mood, body language, and tone speak volumes, even when you don’t realize it. Your clients – including internal clients such as fellow coworkers and even your boss – will pick up on it and respond accordingly. Negative energy can have disastrous consequences. As I mentioned previously, the internet has increased competition in virtually every field. Consumers have more choices than ever before. Which would you rather work with, someone with a spark in their voice and a smile you can “hear” over the phone? Or a sourpuss? This isn’t just limited to a negative attitude. Tired, stressed out, and overworked can have the same impact.
In The Energy Bus, a best seller by Jon Gordon, the author reveals 10 secrets for approaching your personal and professional life with positive energy. Quite simply, it works. People can feel the energy and enthusiasm and want to be a part of that culture. Clients want to be serviced by someone who is happy to be there. This message needs to be shared by all members of your organization. As a manager, you need to weed out the “energy vampires,” who only want to complain and bring everyone else down. There’s no room for those types of people on your bus.
Keep in mind, it must be genuine. The only thing worse than dealing with someone who is miserable is faking happiness. We’ve all had bad days but you can’t let it seep through to your interactions. Find some work you can do alone, “behind the scenes,” or even take a day off. If the negative feeling persists daily, perhaps it’s a signal to start looking for a different job that will make you happy.