Why energy management scores higher than time management at the workplace

Burnout, stress, quiet quitting, rage applying and resenteeism are the new age realities of workplaces and organizations, across the globe. And they will not disappear into thin air anytime soon unless organizations, workforces and industry agree on a massive shift of perspective. It’s time to embrace energy management over time management at the workplace. Even statistically, it’s the right thing to do.

According to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), titled Working Time and Work-Life Balance around the world, “Working-time laws and regulations on maximum daily hours of work and statutory rest periods are achievements that contribute to the long-term health and well-being of a society and must not be put at risk.” The report has concluded that a balance can bring benefits for economies, businesses and workers, including greater productivity.

Energy management means maximizing employees’ physical mental and emotional well-being by channeling it to complete goals and boosting productivity, as opposed to time management which is more process driven and focuses on the end result only, rather than the people behind it. It’s done by allowing regular breaks, which can be anything from a quick online game, a coffee or gym break or just a few minutes spent in the green spaces of the workplace to recharge oneself. This not only helps break a task down between various employees based on their abilities and talents, but also aids in collaboration, trust, understanding, adaptability and being open-minded. An emphatic win here also includes setting realistic deadlines for task completion which also eases mental pressure, to a great extent and thus paves the way easily for quality over quantity.

How to facilitate energy management at the workplace?

• Know your people: It’s never easy to handle diverse employees and energies. When organizations listen to their people, connect with their aspirations, and understand who they are and what drives them, it’s easier to understand their energy levels. Everyone is aligned to handle things differently and have certain times of the day when they are most productive or have productivity peaks. Therefore, tasks must be assigned accordingly.  
• Training & Development: It’s time to call in the experts, if you really believe in people power. Workshops, interactive sessions and activities on emotional, physical and mental well-being will reap rich dividends on both sides—happy employees and great results.
• Break Time: Just a break for a quick lunch or coffee is not a big booster. Employees should be allowed to define or set the frequency of their breaks and what they would like to do in that ‘off time.’ It can work wonders on productivity and their own well-being.
• Trust: Let your people know that you trust them, by allowing them to build their own schedules, define timelines and pack in elements that make work more flexible. This not only boosts their confidence and sense of job satisfaction, but it also ensures they feel more valued and engaged in their organization.

It’s important for everyone to be mindful of the fact that prioritization of tasks is also a crucial differentiator when it comes to energy management. It’s important to detox, set healthy boundaries, respect others and most importantly, not get affected by challenges or unforeseen situations that may arise. They also need to identify and address energy-depleting behaviours and patterns that could harm productivity and the general work environment.

After all, energy is all about channeling. And channeling it right over time management is the key.