5 Ways to Kick-Start Employee Energy

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Want to give employees a really quick energy burst? If you have even just two minutes, consider having a quality, face-to-face conversation with them. Science shows that conversation releases three high-performance hormones in the brain:

dopamine, which enhances pleasure, cuts pain, and increases creativity
oxytocin, which increases bonding and trust, and decreases stress
serotonin, which reduces fear, tension and worry

Keep in mind, though: The challenge is in having a quality conversation. This requires you being present in the moment, focused on the person you are speaking with, showing genuine curiosity, and not being distracted by other things or thoughts.

No doubt about it: Regardless of the time of year, we remain in a state of exhaustion. Look at some of your most promising employees: Do you remember a time when they were on fire, when they had fantastic ideas, contributed at staff meetings, and regularly went above and beyond the call of duty? And do they now simply appear to be going through the motions?

If you're a business leader scratching your head for ideas, there's good news. In this slideshow, Brady Wilson, author of "Beyond Engagement: A Brain-Based Approach That Blends the Engagement Managers Want with the Energy Employees Need," has identified five simple ways to reinvigorate employees — solutions that not only take up little time, but will energize the brain and body, leading to a higher-performing workforce.

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