Managing your energy not your time is key to startup success

It’s 4pm on a Friday, and you’re racing against the clock to complete a crucial report for the board of directors. In the high-pressure world of startups, where long nights are the norm and time always seems in short supply, the traditional wisdom of time management often falls short. Instead, as Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy argue in their 2007 Harvard Business Review article, the real key to success might lie in managing your energy more effectively.

In venture capital its vital when investing in startups that you support your founders with more than just money. That is why we have been working hard to back founders in more fundamental ways. There is never enough time in the day and finding ways to maximise output is crucial without seeing your founders burn out.

In the article “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time,” the authors present a compelling argument for a fundamental shift in our approach to productivity and well-being. Their thesis pivots on the concept of energy management as a more effective strategy than the traditional focus on time management. Here are seven key insights for startup founders:

• Redefining Productivity: The traditional approach to productivity focuses on managing time. However, this article argues that managing energy is more effective. When investing in startups we are always looking for high-energy motivated founders. Time is a finite resource, but energy can be expanded and renewed. By focusing on energy management, individuals can work more efficiently and sustainably.
  
  
• The Four Wellsprings of Energy: The authors identify four main sources of energy: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Each of these areas can be systematically developed to enhance overall energy levels. For instance, physical energy can be boosted through exercise, nutrition, and rest; emotional energy through positive interactions and attitudes; mental energy by minimising distractions and focusing on tasks; and spiritual energy by engaging in activities that provide a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
  
  
• The Importance of Renewal: Unlike time, energy can be renewed. The article emphasises the importance of taking regular breaks to restore physical energy, adopting a positive mindset to manage emotional energy, reducing multitasking for better mental energy, and aligning daily activities with personal values to nourish spiritual energy.
  
  
• Implementing Rituals: The authors suggest establishing rituals or routines to regularly renew energy in each dimension. This could include scheduled breaks during the workday, practices to foster a positive emotional environment, time management techniques to reduce cognitive overload and activities that connect with personal values and purpose.
  
  
• Organisational Support: For energy management to be effective, it needs to be supported at an organisational level. Companies that invest in the well-being of their employees by encouraging and facilitating energy management practices see benefits in terms of productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall performance.
  
  
• Real-world Impact: The article provides examples of how these principles have been successfully applied in the corporate world. For instance, a group of employees at Wachovia Bank who participated in an energy management program reported significant improvements in customer relationships, productivity, and personal satisfaction. These improvements were also reflected in key financial metrics.
  
  
• Holistic Approach to Employee Well-being: The article concludes by highlighting the importance of organisations recognising and investing in all dimensions of their employees’ lives. When employees bring their full energy to work, both they and their organisations thrive. In summary, “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” advocates for a paradigm shift in how productivity is approached, emphasising the importance of energy management across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions to achieve sustained high performance and well-being.
  

In summary, “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” advocates for a paradigm shift in how productivity is approached, emphasising the importance of energy management across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions to achieve sustained high performance and well-being.

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