The Energy Bus

The Energy Bus provides a fantastic process, using set principles, to motivate and infuse you and your team members with highly positive energy.

Great leaders understand that positive thinking is key to a healthy work environment - one that encourages creativity, teamwork and productivity.

When a leader arrives at work, you have a choice. You can catch people doing things right, or you can catch them doing things wrong.

Guess which of those two activities energizes people more?

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy is great in the way it clarifies why so many executives are praising the power of positive energy – in classrooms, board rooms and even locker rooms.

In the style of other best selling business fables, Jon Gordon author of The Energy Bus, takes readers on an inspiring journey that reveals ten secrets for successfully addressing life and work with a quality approach that ensures success.

Gordon reminds managers that it is up to them to make sure team members understand who is actually driving the bus; where the bus is going; and what it takes to be permitted to remain riding on the bus.

In other words, each team member needs to clearly determine whether or not he or she is getting on the bus for the entire journey or not.

In the following video the author shares a personal story about how being positive doesn't always come naturally for him, but how he's learned to overcome negativity, adversity and challenges by committing to a more positive way of thinking.

Key Points On Riding The Energy Bus

Gordon is a strong proponent that in order to ensure positive energy on the bus, the bus driver must make certain that the journey is “fun” for all the passengers.

He provides a few key points for leaders to ensure a fun bus ride for all:

• Always keep in mind that the journey needs to be a positive experience - your people should be having fun, in a way that excites them.
• The journey does not always have to be so laborious that people perceive it to be painful or difficult.
• Check in with your team often and ask them how we can maintain fun in the workplace but in a way that promotes increased production.
• Ask team members what ideas they have for maintaining a fun and healthy work environment.
• Be sure to continually remind yourself and the team that the ultimate win is to achieve the top priorities and goals while maintaining a smile on your face. It’s not just about achieving the goal, it's also about who you and your team members become in the process.

Managers must learn how to successfully navigate adversity and potholes along the way.

Expect that every great team, including your own, will face adversity, challenges, and struggles along the journey. Every great team will be tested, but great teams don’t let flat tires stop them from reaching their destination.

10 Rules For The Ride Of Your Life

The book is summarized very nicely with a complete list of “10 Rules For The Ride Of Your Life”.

The rules include key points such as:

• You are the driver of your bus
• Desire, vision and focus move your bus in the right direction
• Fuel your ride with positive energy
• Invite People on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead.

One of the best rules mentioned includes Rule #5 - "Don’t waste your energy on those who don’t get on your bus", and Rule #6 – "Post a sign that says NO ENERGY VAMPIRES ALLOWED on your bus".

Watch Gordon explain all about those pesky Energy Vampires below...

Who's Allowed On The Bus?

To be on the bus, leaders should make clear to all team members that they will he held accountable to meet some basic expectations.  

There are a limited number of seats on the bus so in order to reserve a seat each team member is responsible to come to work each and every day; be there on purpose, work hard, produce results, and be a fully engaged and positive member of the team.

No one should be allowed to opt out, EVERYONE who gets on the bus, must be fully committed and willing to participate at 100%. 

You can listen to a sample of The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy as it is also available as an audio book.

In a nutshell, the story is fun and enlightening. It is a fast and enjoyable read and the lessons taught in this book are simple yet powerfully effective.

We encourage you to add The Energy Bus to your leadership library.

Author Bio

Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus, is a leading authority on developing positive, engaged people, leaders, businesses, schools, and teams. 

More Leadership Books