The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

A couple of people in your group have become sullen, argumentative foot-draggers. The team’s efforts are slackening because of them. You, the leader, must deal with these Energy Vampires or the group’s goals won’t be met. How should you engage with them? What offers might you make, and how might you deal with them if they refuse to commit to the team’s efforts?

Name two sources of positive behavioral energy and explain how each contributes to enthusiasm and effectiveness.

How is love important in building teams and achieving goals?

Lately you’ve been feeling negative at home and at work, and though you’re aware your behavior isn’t good for you, you’ve been too caught up in your problems to repair the damage. Then your boss threatens to fire you and your significant other promises to leave you if you don’t shape up. What steps might you take to improve your attitude and turn around your performance at work and your behavior at home?

Energy Bus passenger Marty enjoys finding research studies that demonstrate the benefits of positive energy. Select two of those studies and explain what they’ve discovered about how energy, either positive or negative, affects peoples’ wellbeing.

How can a leader be loving yet strong and effective? Give examples.

Consider Joy’s 10 rules. Pick the one you think is most important and present arguments in favor of it being the top rule.

Some people might object to the idea of positive energy, arguing that it’s a naïve optimism that ignores the tough realities of life. Explain how someone can be clear-eyed yet positive.