Monitoring Your Personal Battery Levels - The Thin Line Between Perseverance and Stubbornness

TLDR: This article is about psychological safety for Product people struggling in a culturally adverse environment (for example, a management moving away from Product, Agile and core values...). Learn to monitor your energy levels (how much energy you have and how much is needed to swim against the current) to avoid entering in dangerous zones, burning-out. Know when letting go is the best option.

Over the years, I have interacted with many people in the Product field, and even been mentor for a lot of them. I have seen many struggling with the hard task of setting up a new product culture for years, gearing up with all their energy and fighting against the current. Most of them had the support of the CEO and management, which made the task complex but rewarding, and this is how there are so many great Product Organizations now in France.

Sadly, I have seen lately more and more cases of recent management changes (usually investors changing the ExCom to "clean up", severe budget cutting, etc.) reverting to old school project and IT-mindsets breaking the data and value-focused, user-centered and Agile Product culture (maybe as a reaction to a contracting investment market? wanting to have the illusion of increased control? Confusing short-term finance with mid/long term-value... I wrote about Project vs Product previously, and about Agile Management).

Many of these Product People wonder where is the line between perseverance and stubbornness... is their energy well spent? And the question I ask them back: are you monitoring the cost on you?

Let me try to introduce you to a personal concept that I try to share with them: the Personal Battery Level.

I. The Multifaceted Nature of Personal Energy

Personal energy isn't just about the physical vitality that keeps us going; it encompasses mental and emotional energy as well. It's the sum total of our well-being, the alignment with our management, and even how we fit into Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Personal energy isn't solely derived from a good night's sleep or a balanced diet (though those are undeniably important). It's also influenced by factors like our sense of purpose, our emotional state, and our alignment with the values and goals of the organization and particularly our management.

When these elements align harmoniously, our personal energy tends to be at its peak. However, personal energy can be drained by various stressors—work-related, personal, or even cultural misalignment within the workplace. Understanding this concept is crucial as we navigate the decision of whether to persevere or let go.

II. The Personal Battery Level Matrix

Now, let's introduce the Personal Battery Level Matrix.

Disclaimer: This is not (as far as I know) a known Framework made by some famous person... This comes from pure personal experience ??

Imagine a two-dimensional 3x3 matrix where one axis represents your personal energy available, and the other represents the energy required to perform a specific activity or task. This matrix provides a visual representation of your energy balance, your personal battery

.

Sustainable vs draining

There are two main areas: the sustainable area (when you have more energy that what is required) and the draining area (where the energy required is above your availability).

This is pretty easy to understand, staying in a draining area mean you are using more energy than what you normally have, it's like performing a sprint when you are already exhausted. You can do it but you will use mechanism that are meant to be used only in "survival" situation (fight or flight situations), and there is usually a price to pay afterwards... In sports it would be the sore muscles, at work you usually pay it with your health (getting sick, burn-out...).

The different zones of the Personal Battery Level Matrix

Let's take a look at the different zones where one can be.

1. Comfort Zone (High Energy, Moderate to Low Requirement): When you have high personal energy, and the task requires relatively little energy, you're in your comfort zone.
2. Challenge Zone, Easy and with Tension (High Energy, Moderate to High Requirement): Here, the task demands energy, but you have the resources to meet those demands. This zone is characterized by healthy stress and is where growth and innovation often occur.
3. Balance Zone (Moderate Energy, Moderate Requirement): In the middle of the matrix lies the balance zone. Here, the energy required and available are balanced. It serves as a "recharging" zone, allowing you to regain your energy and equilibrium, the "business as usual" in a positive way.
4. Draining Challenge Zone and Survival Zone (Moderate to Low Energy, High to Moderate Requirement): When the energy required for a task is high, but your personal energy is running low, you enter the draining challenge zone or the survival zone (depending on the energy you still have). This can be a difficult place to be for a long time as you can easily drift to dangerous zones (Toxic or Zombie), it is important to take action to move away as quickly as possible.
5. Toxic Zone (Lowest Energy, Highest Requirement): The toxic zone is the most perilous. Here, both personal energy and task requirements are at their extremes. It's a place of extreme stress and can lead to severe burnout, health issues...
6. Zombie Zone (Lowest Energy, Lowest Requirement): This is the disengagement zone, the "quiet quitting" meets "quite firing". Charles Chaplin's Modern Time kind of work.

?? Notice how Zombie and Toxic Zones are sinks. Once you reach them, extreme action need to be taken to get out (change position, take a sick leave, quit the company...).

III. The art of Letting Go

The Perseverance Predicament

Let's acknowledge the value of perseverance. When you're passionate about a vision, resilience is your best friend. It's that tenacity that propels you through challenges, fuels late-night brainstorming sessions, and keeps you pushing forward despite headwinds. Finding yourself in a Draining Challenge Zone, your perseverance can help you run the last mile and the task through.

However, there's a fine line between perseverance and stubbornness. Staying the course when the odds are stacked against you might lead to a sinking ship, metaphorically speaking. So, how do you recognize when you've crossed that line? Look at your personal battery levels ??

Do you still have the energy to keep pushing?

Are you entering a draining zone? If so, can you exit anytime soon?

When sometimes the best option is Letting Go

And the questions arises on the lives of these Product People for whom the environment changed and became hostile with the new management: What are some signs it's time to let go?

1. Entering the Toxic Zone: The once-thriving product culture you nurtured begins to wither and die under the weight of resistance and skepticism. Your energy slowly depletes (as it is wrongly used fighting the wrong battles) and you start sensing the toxic atmosphere that can damage not only your team but also your own passion and well-being. Listen to your body: you feel tired, lacking sleep, have troubles getting up in the morning...
2. Culture Clash: The clash between your product-focused, agile mindset and your management's preference for old-school project management IT-mindset becomes a constant source of friction. It affects morale, productivity, and innovation. You don't see any sign of convergence in your respective visions and culture ideal.
3. Diminished Impact: Your ability to make a positive impact within the organization diminishes as you find yourself increasingly marginalized and unable to implement the changes you believe in, the processes and values you believe in.

And follows the difficult conversation I have had so many times with these Product People that feel that letting go would be betraying the company or their colleagues... Letting go is not admitting defeat; it's recognizing that sometimes, the circumstances are beyond your control. It involves a deep understanding that your energy and talents may be better invested elsewhere, where they can flourish.

1. Self-Preservation: Leaving a situation that hinders your personal and professional growth is a form of self-preservation. When the alignment with your management or company cannot be fixed or found, is your energy well spent? It's about recognizing your own value and knowing when to protect your passion and vision.

2. Leading by Example: By choosing to move on, you set an example of courage and resilience. You show that sometimes, the bravest decision is to acknowledge when a situation isn't aligned with your values and aspirations.

3. Exploring New Horizons: The end of one journey is the beginning of another. When you let go, you open the door to new opportunities and fresh challenges that might align more closely with your vision.

So fellow Product people, starting this year 2024, monitor your energy levels, your personal battery. YOU come before your Product, never forget that.

And if you feel you are entering draining or dangerous zones, talk to your manager and take action to preserve yourselves. And know that if nothing works, letting go is not a failure as long as you learn about your drivers and boundaries and move forward.

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And of course, comments and feedback are always welcome!