Jackie Zach
December 26, 2024
Mike McKay and Jackie Zach explore the concept of the “energetic stack” and how a leader’s emotional energy impacts their team and workplace. The stack comprises various emotional states, from negative emotions like shame and guilt at the bottom to positive states like joy and bliss at the top. They emphasize that leaders must take responsibility for their energy, as it sets the tone for the organization. If a leader brings low energy, such as shame, it can drag the team down, while operating at higher levels like peace or love can inspire and energize everyone. Jackie and Mike discuss how emotions are choices and highlight the importance of self-awareness and personal accountability in maintaining positive energy.
To help leaders climb the energetic stack, they recommend four practices: meditation, reading uplifting material, journaling, and consciously choosing to elevate energy levels. Meditation can help center the mind, reading fosters growth, and journaling aids self-reflection. Mike shares his own practice of affirmations to stay at the top of the stack, while Jackie uses the stack as her screensaver to stay mindful of her emotional state. Both agree that boosting personal energy benefits not only the leader but the entire team, leading to better solutions and a more positive work environment. As a bonus tip, they suggest smiling to instantly elevate energy and encourage others to explore these tools for fostering a thriving workplace.
Is your energy at the optimum level as a leader? If not, how is that affecting your team? Take advantage of a complimentary business strategy session to find out how your energy is affecting your team’s results today! http://makemoreworkless.actioncoach.com/mmwl-diag-and-questions/
Podcast Transcript:
Mike McKay: Hi, Jackie.
Jackie Zach: Hi, good morning!
Mike: How are you today?
Jackie: I am fabulous, thank you! How about you?
Mike: I’m great too. Sounds like you’re full of energy today.
Jackie: I sure am!
Mike: Perfect lead-in to today’s topic: the energetic stack, and how your energy as a leader impacts the people around you throughout the day.
Jackie: That’s a great one! It’s so important to notice that how you go, the rest of your organization goes.
Mike: Exactly. So, what are the emotions on the energy stack?
Jackie: There are several, starting from the bottom: shame, guilt, apathy, grief, fear, and desire. These make up the bottom third. Then there’s anger, pride, courage, neutrality, willingness, and acceptance, which form the middle third. At the very top, we have reason, love, joy, peace, and bliss.
Mike: Love isn’t a word you often hear associated with business.
Jackie: Exactly.
Mike: So how does a business owner use this concept? For starters, let’s touch on shame. Only one person can make you feel shame, and that’s yourself. It’s a choice you make. Many blame others for making them feel ashamed, but it stems from a fundamental belief that you’re not valuable and are allowing someone else to label you.
Jackie: Right. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Mike: Exactly. Now imagine you’re a business owner trying to lead a team, and you walk in feeling shame.
Jackie: What happens to the team?
Mike: Nothing good, that’s for sure.
Jackie: Absolutely. Even if people can’t pinpoint that it’s shame, they’ll sense something’s off, and it drags the energy of the entire room or office down.
Mike: Right. As leaders, our job is to climb that stack daily and reach the top levels—peace, joy, and love. Not romantic love, but the love that means caring deeply about helping those around you excel. Climbing the energetic stack is challenging, but it’s essential. If you think, “Mike and Jackie, you don’t get my world,” you’re right. But if you’re unwilling to improve your energy, understand that it will drain your business’s energy too.
Jackie: Absolutely.
Mike: There are three simple ways to climb the stack. First, meditate. If you’re new to it, try guided meditation apps to get started. The goal is to boost your energy so your team can thrive. Second, read 10 pages of positive or self-help books daily, like Think and Grow Rich, As a Man Thinketh, or Measure What Matters. Lastly, journal. Write down your thoughts during the day.
Jackie: Those are great!
Mike: One bonus tip: choose to climb the stack. My morning meditation focuses on reaching the top levels of the stack. One of my “I am” statements is, “I am continually climbing the energetic stack to bliss, peace, and joy.” It’s my role as a leader to bring positive energy to my team.
Jackie: Absolutely. I also keep the energy stack as my screensaver. It helps me check in and ask, “Where am I right now?” If I’m in neutrality, I figure out what I need to move up to peace, joy, or bliss.
Mike: Exactly. It’s up to each of us to take responsibility for our energy. I remember a quote from a job I had 30 years ago: “Your life is in the hands of any fool who can upset you.” It’s stuck with me because it’s true. If you let someone else control your energy, that’s a choice, and you’ll face the consequences.
Jackie: Absolutely.
Mike: So, these are the four things: meditate, read, journal, and choose to climb the stack. Those practices help you climb the energetic stack. Imagine bringing positive energy to your team every day—it empowers them to find better solutions and tackle challenges effectively.
Jackie: Absolutely. And one bonus tip: just smile. Putting a smile on your face can instantly boost your energy several levels up the stack.
If you’d like to learn more about climbing the energetic stack and creating a positive work environment, email me at jackiezach@actioncoach.com or click the link in the show notes. Until next time, go kick some ass!