Managing Up

6The Energizer

“You can't expect to hit the jackpot if you don't put a few nickels in the machine.”

—Flip Wilson

 

Real‐Life Story

Benjie was so excited when Don hired him to be his chief of staff. Benjie had worked with Don at a prior company and had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Don was a dynamic, fast‐paced person with big ideas and the courage to take risks. There was never a dull moment working with Don. There were always lots of exciting new projects and room to try new things. But best of all, Don was fun. He was always upbeat and had a way of making everyone smile. Plus, he always had your back and was always there to support and encourage. But when Benjie arrived at his new job he was dismayed to see the team was a mess. Things were disorganized and chaotic. The staff was floundering and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It was clearly evident to Benjie that there was a huge chasm between the team and Don's leadership style. Benjie knew he had walked into a mess, a mess that he had to clean up.

 

• The Energizer Boss

  Fun, inspiring, and enthusiastic. And, yes, sometimes exasperating. Energizers are people focused, inviting, fast paced, and enthusiastic. Their door is always open and every idea is worth exploring. Energizers have a lot of energy and they want to use that energy to support the team. If they're not moving, changing, or trying something new, the Energizer gets bored. An Energizer Boss is a dream come true for energetic ...