CIO Era Magazines

A few years ago, I was fortunate to participate in a Pfizer workshop that made me think more deeply about the connection between energy – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – and my ability to be effective in both my personal and professional life. The two-day workshop with ‘The Energy Project’ was one of those where the lessons for me have lasted and the benefit has been sustained. Their program was based on the best-selling book "The way we're working isn't working," by Tony Schwartz and the central idea is that effectiveness comes not from managing our time, but from managing our energy. 

 

Interestingly, when my fellow participants and I took our “energy audits” many of us were showing that this wasn’t a strength! We were showing definite depletion, bordering on burn-out for some. I recall the message from our facilitator, “You are not going to be valuable through the rest of your careers if you have unsustainable habits and can’t operate at your best…plus, don’t you want to just feel better?”

 

 

 

 

 

The topic came back to the top of my mind through the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as many of us adapted to working from home. While I am thankful every day to have a job and one that I can do from home – I count myself very fortunate compared to many – there is a risk that we slide into bad habits. We are never separated from work, we don’t have the enforced break of commuting, our days are less structured, we are more sedentary. If we are not careful, every day becomes the same, and we become jaded from endless calls, emails and messages coming at us at all hours. That’s before adding in the additional exhausting challenges of supervising home schooling, other new responsibilities for many, and the stresses of uncertainty and maybe isolation.

 

The habits of good energy management have never been more important than they are today.

 

A wise person once asked me, “If you had a magic machine that printed real money, would you look after it?” Err… yes! “Would you refuel it regularly, maintain it, turn it off sometimes to prevent it overheating and always make sure it was in tip-top working order?” Err… yeah! 

 

“That magic machine is you.”

 

My Pfizer colleagues see their work as more than a job – it’s a passion that runs deep. Their commitment to helping patients is so strong, so ingrained in their psyche that it can be all too easy to sacrifice important things like exercise, time with family and friends, and even sleep.

 

Working with high intensity is only sustainable if we also devote time to restoring our energy. It doesn’t matter that we work long hours if those hours aren’t productive. Better to work intensely when our energy is high and use the rest of our time to restore ready for the next sprint. 

 

Did anyone ever tell you that you work like a dog? That might be a good thing. Dogs go all in. Whether it is running, chasing, playing or gnawing on a bone, there is no partial engagement. They commit fully and give it everything. Then they go to sleep, often for a long time.

 

Here are a few things I’m trying to do:

 

Make time to renew energy. Be thoughtful about the week ahead and view activities that renew my energy with the same importance as meetings and appointments. I realize there is never a calendar gap coming for reflection, planning or exercise. You have to put those things on the calendar, or they don’t happen.

 

Work in bursts. Sometimes I will even set a timer. Go at it, then take a break.

 

Set boundaries. Sure, I work long hours and across time zones, but I set a strict early stop time on a Friday and I block certain times to do other things. I encourage my team to do the same and I try to be conscious of limiting any work communications at weekends.

 

Use my vacation days. Even if some are at home. I’ve realized that taking a break and travelling away are not necessarily the same thing, and not of the same importance.

 

Stick to healthy commitments. I decided this year to get eight hours of sleep at least four days a week on average, and to do a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week. I walk more, sometimes on my own, but more often with my wife and my dog (that’s Libby pictured above on one of our many walks together). We walk less when we are at home all day so I try to take what chance I can. I get uplifted by being outdoors in open spaces. That’s where I find perspective and put my head in order. I’ve managed to keep those commitments so far, but my goals on strength training and stretching need some renewal, I’m afraid.

 

Cherish time with my family. We’ve had the chance to be together more than for a long time. I’m grateful for that and I remind myself how lucky I am.

​

Connect regularly with others. I try to connect regularly with my team. Like me, they are hugely energized by our Pfizer Purpose to bring forward breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. However, we all need connection, personal communication and honest exchange to stay motivated. Realizing we are not going to bump into each other at the coffee machine, we are checking in with each other online – a virtual water cooler. We don’t always have an agenda, just an open environment where we can be frank about our challenges. Just talking, asking questions, listening and offering support – it all really matters.

 

I share this because we’re all working out how to be our best in tough times right now. What’s here is not original – it comes from what others taught me – but I hope it sparks a thought for some of you. I’d love to hear your ideas and tips to build on this.