Tell me a story about something you are passionate about in your life. I am listening intently. I hear the enthusiasm in your voice. I notice a bright smile on your face, your body language is animated, and you are 100% energetically engaged in this moment. Imagine what would happen in your career if you could apply this same level of energy and passion to your job every day?  

100% Energetic Engagement is the tenth and final practice (a.k.a. discipline) featured in this series on how to unleash the career of your dreams and reach your full potential as a leader. In case you have missed previous articles on the subject, here is the complete list of the ten practices as defined by the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC):

1. Awareness
2. Acceptance
3. Conscious Choice
4. Trusting the Process
5. Authenticity
6. Fearlessness
7. Confidence
8. Connection
9. Presence in the Moment
10. 100% Energetic Engagement

When researching the meaning of “energy” and its origin, I learned it was derived from an ancient Greek word. The original meaning was philosophical and included the concepts of happiness and pleasure. This explanation makes perfect sense to me. When we are 100% energetically engaged, we are in a state of euphoria and can create anything at will and manifest our hearts’ greatest desires.   

If being 100% energetically engaged is the secret to reaching your full potential as a leader and all you must do is show up, give it your all, and not quit regardless of the obstacles, then why is this state so hard to reach, let alone maintain? The answer is that there are external and internal factors that are robbing us of our energy. 

Being 100% energetically engaged requires us to “fire on all cylinders” and utilize our total spiritual, emotional, physical, mental, environmental, and social capacity. That is not an easy task, especially when we are unaware that any of these areas, also referred to as the six influencers in the iPEC vocabulary, are draining us of energy. 

• Did you not get enough sleep last night and can’t think clearly today (mental and physical drain)? 
• Were you in a fight with your significant other before showing up at the office (social and emotional drain)?
• Do you have to work on a holiday and are upset about it (spiritual and emotional drain)? 

The list of factors potentially diminishing your energy is endless, and therefore our ability to engage 100% energetically is constantly being challenged. 

My advice is to bring awareness to what robs you of energy and optimize your circumstances. Identify what is holding you back. Whether it is an external distractor, e.g., the lighting and temperature in your office (environmental drain), which is easily fixed, or whether you are holding yourself back due to some internal blocks, that can be best addressed by working with a coach. 

How you show up in this world is entirely your choice. You are empowered to create your experience at will by mastering the ten practices featured in this series. If you are interested in learning more about reaching your full potential as a leader, contact me at angela@belladonnacareercoach.com.