Ever wonder what really makes your company thrive? It's viability comes from energy centers. These centers that operate silently are the sources of success, creativity, productivity, and satisfaction, as well as their counterparts.

Knowing about the energy centers can positively impact the productivity and profitability of your company and the satisfaction of your employees, customers, and shareholders. Let's look at the seven energy centers, what depletes them, and what you can do to revitalize them. The first energy center, Company Culture, is the foundation of the company. Within this center are the history, traditions, core values, unspoken expectations and unwritten rules about how employees behave. A major event or series of events is usually required to change the culture which is painstakingly difficult. This center's energy is depleted when there is a strong attachment to the past, an unwillingness to change, and fear of the unknown. To revitalize the energy, continue to hire people with new ideas. Encourage creativity. Take what's valuable from your roots. Create new traditions. Validate your core values.

The second energy center

Relationships, is created through every relationship - those with co-workers, managers, executives, vendors, customers, and shareholders. Each employee brings their own energy into the company. The quality of relationships is reflected in productivity, profitability, employee morale, customer satisfaction, and shareholder pleasure. This center's energy is depleted when there are unresolved conflicts, resentments, unspoken communication, lack of respect, and lack of teamwork. To revitalize the energy, verify that employees have the skills, tools, and opportunities they need to nurture their relationships. Expect them to resolve conflicts. Encourage open communication and conscious cooperation.

The third energy center

Power, is executive and management authority and influential, natural leaders. Influential power is most often more potent than positional power. This center's energy is depleted when power is misused through hidden agendas, lack of cooperation, mis-communication, non-responsiveness, and lack of empowerment. To revitalize the energy, expect employees to work without hidden agendas and without coercive influence. Empower employees so they can make decisions about their work.

The fourth energy center

The Heart, is the collective soul of the company. It is how it cares for its employees. They want acknowledgment of their efforts, talents, and skills. They need understanding when personal challenges arise. A genuine interest in and consideration for the concerns of the employees are essential. This center's energy rapidly depletes when the employees feel the company doesn't care about them, respect them, or understand their needs. Symptoms include absenteeism, tardiness, turnover, low morale, and excessive use of the healthcare system. To revitalize the energy, nurture and support your employees. Expect them to be considerate. Recognize your employees for their contributions. Create an environment that is conducive for putting forth their best effort. Respect them. Be reasonable in your expectations. Keep in mind they have lives outside of work.

The fifth energy center

The Will, is how the company operates. There's congruency when your company really does what it say it does. There's alignment with the company's purpose. Functional systems, processes, and procedures are in place. This center's energy is rapidly depleted when the operations of the company are dysfunctional. More time and energy for work to be completed are required. Symptoms include frustrated and disgruntled employees, decline in productivity, dissatisfied customers, and lower profits. To revitalize the energy, check the systems, processes, and procedures to assure their appropriateness, efficiency, and flexibility. Communicate the purpose of the work. Verify that employees have the business knowledge and support they need to carry out their work.

The sixth energy center

Vision, is absolutely essential for the longevity of the company's work. When everyone shares the vision, they feel ownership and accept more responsibility for what happens on a day-to-day basis. This center's energy is depleted when there's a lack of clarity about where the company is headed. Employees lack enthusiasm because they don't view their work as contributing to a greater whole. To revitalize the energy, involve employees in the development of the company's vision. Celebrate the vision. Revisit it on a timely basis.

The seventh energy center

Connection, is the company's relationship with the world of business and the world at large. It's engaging in business and community activities that contribute to the greater good of the world. It's being environmentally and socially responsible. This center's energy is depleted when the company tries to operate in a vacuum and the only focus is profitability. To revitalize the energy, act on your response to the question, "What are we doing to help make this a better world?" Support your employees' volunteer efforts. Sponsor schools and social agencies. Mentor a struggling business. Honor your global counterparts.

When the energy centers function at an optimal level, strong and dynamic forces are created that can take the company to the next level of integrity, viability, and profitability. So if you want your company to fully thrive, consider a thorough investigation of its energy centers. Then act upon what you learn.