Thriving individuals are growing, developing, and energized rather than stagnating or feeling depleted. Thriving is indicated by the joint experience of vitality and learning at work. The first component, vitality, denotes the sense that one is energized and feels alive at work. When thriving, people feel passionate about what they do. They produce their own energy through their excitement for their work. Thriving individuals have a spark that fuels energy in themselves and others too. The second component, learning, is about growing and learning new knowledge and skills. When thriving, people believe they are getting better at what they do. Thriving individuals aren’t satisfied with the status quo – they are self-learners who actively seek out opportunities to learn new things and develop. Continue reading
Author Archives: Gretchen Spreitzer
The Energy Audit: A Tool for Restoration
By Gretchen Spreitzer“We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”- Thomas Merton
Over the last 20 years, we have seen a dramatic public and business interest in sustainability; however, much of the focus has been on its environmental and economic dimensions, and much less on the human dimension (Pfeffer, 2010). Certainly reducing waste and increasing focus on the natural environment are critical features of sustainability, but we also have to better understand the human dimension of sustainability, particularly in terms of energy and health. Like a battery, human energy can be depleted over time if not regularly recharged. Some even call the depletion of human energy a type of “energy crisis” that must not be ignored (Loehr & Schwartz, 2003). To this end, with Traci Grant, I have developed a tool that can be used to help people better manage their energy in their personal and professional endeavors. Continue reading
