Tabitha A. Scott's Blog, page 2

Don't Wait for a Scorpion Behind Your Toilet, Start Taking Risks!

[image error][image error][image error][image error]Behind the toilet, wrapped up in the bath towel, snuggling inside the bed sheets, in the shower, and even inside the pillowcase were scorpions. The most frightening of my Trust Your Animal Instincts encounters was definitely the appearance of 7 scorpions within a 48-hour period. I had journeyed over 2,000 miles from home to a remote area near the jungle to listen to my own intuition. My answers to life’s questions mostly came in the form of wild animals. 

 

Along the way to finding love, like many, I experienced some pretty traumatic events at a young age. As a result, I spent decades allowing fear to keep love at a safe distance by building a barrier around my heart for protection. I reasoned, If they can’t get past my walls, then surely they won’t be able to hurt me. 

During my time alone in Costa Rica, reflecting on my life and asking for guidance about finding true love, I began finding scorpions everywhere in my home. But what did it mean? The scorpion is an ancient symbol of power, representing transformation through the death of the old and rebirth into the new. Rebirth could be with the self and others, of ideas and beliefs, or a complete change in one’s way of life. I wasn’t thinking of transformation when the cranky, barb-tailed arachnids greeted me, in what felt like an all-out invasion. 

After a couple of sleepless nights and a long day of hiking, while meditating about how scorpions could be the answer to my questions about finding love, my "Inner Owl" (intuition) spoke. A scorpion’s exoskeleton provides a strong barrier from its enemies. The scorpions represented the hard shell I’d built around my own heart for protection. The problem with barriers is that they prevent things from getting in, but also from getting out. I should have chosen a shield of protection that could be raised and lowered, as needed, to allow love to flow freely in and out of my heart. 

I decided it was time to smash that barrier around my heart and give love a try. I trusted my own intuition about what felt important in that moment and took the risk of loving someone. It felt scary at first, but also liberating, freeing, and exciting.  Not a single scorpion came into the house after that day of revelation. And, while I appreciated the personally delivered message from my scorpion friends, I hope to never encounter another!

#TrustYourAnimalInstinctsAnimalSeries

If There’s a Scorpion Behind Your Toilet, it’s Time to Give Love a Try

[image error]Behind the toilet, in the shower, and snuggling inside the bed sheets, bath towels, and even the pillowcase were scorpions. The most frightening of my Trust Your Animal Instincts encounters was definitely the appearance of 7 scorpions within a 48-hour period. I had journeyed over 2,000 miles from home to a remote area near the jungle to listen to my own intuition. My answers to life’s questions mostly came in the form of wild animals. 

My adult life had been plagued by bad relationships. In my late teens, I experienced a violent attack and also some deeply painful emotional experiences. Instead of risking a broken heart, I spent decades keeping love at a distance by building a hard shell around my heart for protection. I reasoned, if they couldn’t get past the barriers, then surely, they wouldn’t be able to hurt me. 

During my time alone in Costa Rica, reflecting on my life and asking for guidance about love, I began finding scorpions everywhere. But what did it mean? The scorpion is an ancient symbol of power, representing transformation through the death of the old and rebirth into the new. Rebirth could be with the self and others, of ideas and beliefs, or a complete change in one’s way of life. I wasn’t thinking of transformation when the cranky, barb-tailed arachnids greeted me, in what felt like an all-out invasion. 

After a couple of sleepless nights and a long day of hiking and meditating about how scorpions could be an answer to my questions about love, my intuition spoke. A scorpion’s exoskeleton provides a strong barrier from its enemies. The scorpions represented the hard shell I’d built around my own heart for protection. The problem with barriers is that they prevent things from getting in, but also from getting out. I should have chosen a shield of protection that could be raised and lowered as needed to allow love to flow freely in and out of my heart. 

I decided it was time to smash that barrier around my heart and give love a try. It was risky, but I trusted my own intuition about what felt important in that moment and took the risk of loving someone. It felt scary at first, but also liberating, freeing, and exciting.  Not a single scorpion came into the house after that day of revelation. And, while I appreciate the personally delivered message from my scorpion friends, I hope not to encounter any more in the future.

Soar to New Heights by Letting Go: A Life Lesson from Bats

[image error]Alone and upside-down on my tattered-towel-makeshift yoga mat, I gazed at the huge, gorgeous tree with its sprawling branches reaching out in every direction. Tucked underneath a small thatch-covered area about the size of a sedan, and perched high above ground level, I practiced poses plucked randomly from Bikram, Vinyasa, and YMCA-style yoga. During my daily hour-long routine, it was easy to work up a sweat since I was only 9 degrees from the heat-scorched equator. 

After the third day of practicing yoga, local “participants” joined. Even though it was morning when I exercised, to avoid the intense afternoon heat, cute little brown bats lit underneath the thatched roof and hung out with me while I sweated, inverted, and sorted out the meaning of life. Although I grew up on a farm, I hadn’t been this close to bats before. Their little conversational chirps sounded like a bird with a sinus infection, stuffy little clicks and squeaks. Over time, there were 7 bats that faithfully joined me each day. I named them after the dwarfs in the old Disney film Snow White: Dopey, Doc, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, and Sneezy. (Truth be told, I had trouble telling the quiet ones, Bashful, Sleepy, and Doc, apart during their daily visits.) 

At the time, my life itself had become upside-down over the years of stress and pressures from events that were outside of my control. While there, I learned an important lesson from those 7 funny little bats that can help anyone feeling off-balance and burned out during our days of political unrest, pandemic uncertainty, and social injustice. 

Bats hang upside down because they can’t take off from the ground. They have to literally let go to soar. Otherwise, they’ll never reach the heights where they were designed to fly, where their nourishment lives, and where they can escape the pressures of predators. They are also very sensitive, as they constantly gather the signs around them. Contrary to a common myth, bats are not blind and can see just fine. They use echolocation, or high-frequency sonar sounds, to obtain extra-sensory information to enhance what they see with their eyes. It adds a layer of accuracy and speed as they navigate in the dark. 

It was the same type of wayfinding I was learning through my daily yoga practice—to expand my sensitivities beyond what I could see with my eyes. And to let go, like the bats, to feel the freedom of flight and to find the nourishment that could recharge my life again.  The bats helped me redefine “success” completely. The most powerful gifts of insight came when I was allowing, observing, and listening instead of thinking, solving, and controlling. 

So, there you have it, being upside-down isn’t so bad. It’s certainly not uncommon. Stop trying to hang onto perfection, control, and have ALL the solutions. Just let go every now and then. Who knows? Maybe it will allow you to enjoy soaring to new heights, too! 

(This blog is part of the Trust Your Animal Instincts Series. Read more about the bats and other spirit animals who taught me life changing lessons in the #1 New Release for Spiritual Gifts, Trust Your Animal Instincts: Recharge Your Life & Ignite Your Power.) 

Media Release: August 17, 2020

Tabitha A. Scott Releases New Book: Trust Your Animal Instincts 

Listed as #1 New Release in Multiple Amazon Categories

Nashville, TN — August 17, 2020 — Local female business leader and southern mom, Tabitha A. Scott, has released her first full-length book on Amazon: Trust Your Animal Instincts: Recharge Your Life and Ignite Your Power. The book is part memoir and part self-help, detailing Tabitha's authentic and vulnerable journey from being professionally and personally burned out in Nashville to rediscovering meaning and personal energy in the jungles of Costa Rica. Available only a week on Amazon, the book is already a #1 new release in Business Health & Stress, Work Life Balance in Business, Physics of Energy, Applied Physics, Spiritual Gifts, Solo Travel Guides, Central American Travel, Costa Rica Travel Guides.

"I wrote Trust Your Animal Instincts to help others experience joy and positivity in their life by exposing traps I fell into, and sharing lessons I learned from these experiences," said Tabitha. “My purpose is to explain the off-balance energy we often feel and provide easy-to-implement ideas on what to do to increase and sustain our personal energy.”

Through the book, readers can identify the negative pressures leading to their own burnout at home and work, learn how to reconnect to their own intuition, and maintain a more positive, fulfilled life.   

Trust Your Animal Instincts is already receiving rave reviews: 

“Trust Your Animal Instincts takes the reader on an amazing journey through burnout and self-doubt to faith, courage, and the discovery of life's energy and how it brings our total being together.” 

— Michael Modrak, Author and Playwright 

"Tabitha has exposed the soft underbelly of the human spirit. This book is a delight to the eyes and inner true north. It is a game changer for those who seek to be better." 

— Jennifer Anglin, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Comedian 

“Tabitha shows us that opening up to the childlike qualities of boundless curiosity, energy, and wonder can help us navigate through life's clutter and noise to experience clarity, healing and inspiration.” 

— John Kim, EdD, MPH, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine 

“This book has great value for everyone who is open to embracing the liberation of their own innate energy.” 

— William S. Owen, Former Senator, TN

The book also encourages readers to release unrealistic society expectations (Tabitha calls this the Should Monster). In addition, she introduces the concept of Inner Owl, or personal intuition, and explains how you can find and connect with this wisdom.

"For skeptics, I use quotes and facts from quantum and physical science throughout the book to reinforce this revelation," added Tabitha. "For spiritual people, I share true stories of many animals sent by the Spirit to guide and support me during my journey." 

Visit www.Powering-Potential.com to learn more or request an interview by clicking here.

About Tabitha A. Scott  

Tabitha A. Scott is an award-winning international advisor, speaker, and author. A thought leader in electrical and human energy, her area of expertise is leveraging principles of modern and ancient energy technologies to accelerate innovation, productivity and the development of personal potential. She led efforts in creating the world’s largest solar-powered community and was recognized for her innovations by the White House.  

In addition to earning a bachelor's degree in Finance, an MBA, and a master's degree in Bank Management, Tabitha was credentialed as a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers, in Blockchain through MIT, and holds numerous certifications in human biofield therapy. A Kentucky native, she lives in Nashville, TN.  

Visit www.Powering-Potential.com to learn more, request an interview, or book Tabitha as a speaker.

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Endorsements for "Trust Your Animal Instincts"

I’m humbled and grateful for the following early endorsements of Trust Your Animal Instincts, my first full-length book. 

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This book will encourage you to pave your own path, be bold, and find personal freedom outside societal stereotypes.  

—Virginia Novak, BSN, Clinical Researcher  

Trust Your Animal Instincts takes the reader on an amazing journey through burnout and self-doubt to faith, courage and the discovery of life's energy and how it brings our total being together.  

— Michael Modrak, Author and Playwright

Tabitha’s engaging journey of personal growth, spiritual acknowledgment, and physical distance resonate with 21st century challenges. Her book has great value for everyone who is open to embracing the liberation of their own innate energy. 

—William S. Owen, Former Senator, TN  

Tabitha has exposed the soft underbelly of the human spirit. This book is a delight to the eyes and inner true north. It is a game changer for those who seek to be better.

— Jennifer Anglin, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Comedian

For those of us seeking answers on this journey through life, Trust Your Animal Instincts helps us find the courage to let go of the "shoulds" permeating our lives and to clarify and listen to the universal source at the center of us all. 

— Bo Bass, President, Beaux Land Development Services  

This inspiring book made me realize the incredible power each of us has within us and how to use it to stay positive amidst all the uncertainties of change. 

—K’Leetha Gilbert, Science Instructor, Davidson County - Metro Nashville Schools  

A well-written story of self-exploration that led Tabitha to start a new and more fulfilling life. She uses her excellent storytelling skills to share the wisdom she gained on her journey and tops it off with guides for you to do your own journeys without having to leave the house. A worthwhile read. 

— Victoria E. Slater, RN, PhD, AHN-BC, CHTP/I  

Why "Trust Your Animal Instincts" Was Written for You

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I wrote down the words that were laid on my heart.  I bared my truths to lift up those who feel heavy, forgotten, disconnected, powerless, and unappreciated.

I wrote Trust Your Animal Instincts, without agenda, to help others easily experience joy and positivity without doing it the hard way, like I did.  I got really burned out from trying to please everyone at home and work, feeling like nobody authentically, unconditionally cared, resigning to the fact that there was no cure for my son’s disorder, the end of a long-term marriage, and empty nesting. It was the perfect storm. Without much forethought, I quit my job, gave away my things, and lived in the remote jungle of Costa Rica for a few months to figure out what in the heck to do with my life next. 

After months of reconnection with the Spirit and my own intuition, and after reaching the point of interconnectivity with animals in nature so intimately that we shared heartfelt experiences, the answers were laid on my heart alongside a passion to help anyone willing to listen. The message I received was about realizing you can’t please everyone all the time, and how to embrace and protect your own positivity. It’s about allowing yourself as a “tough” person to still cry and feel, being both logical and spiritual. It’s about using my deep knowledge of electrical and human energy to share that science reinforces the majority of religions, they’re not in conflict. 

The revelation that energy is the source of all things is nothing scientifically new, but that universal truth hasn’t been shared before in a way that transcends religion, skepticism, and science in this way that we can apply it to recharge our own lives. It occurred to me that we’re all born into different geographies with different beliefs and social paradigms. We grow into different levels of education, we look different, and we may choose any number of faiths, like being Methodists, Baptists, or Buddhists. But inwardly, we’re all the same…we’re born as “Energists” from the exact same energy. Equal from the inside out…equally loved, equally enlightened, equally guided, and equally embraced by an endless source of happy-belly energy. [image error]

For skeptics, I used quotes and facts from quantum and physical science throughout the book to reinforce this revelation. For spiritual people, I shared the true stories of many animals sent by the Spirit to guide and support me during my journey. This book was written to free those who are oppressed by trying to live up to all of societies “shoulds”—you should be skinny, should be beautiful, should be tough, should be smart, should conform…I introduce the “Should Monster” and help people recognize its influence holding you back. I share how to stop getting “should on” by yourself and others.

I also introduce my Inner Owl, what I call my own intuition, and explain how you may find and tap into your own. Everyone is different and it doesn’t take a trip to the jungle, a guru, or anything other than yourself to tap into your own limitless source of joy, personal power, and most importantly, unconditional love. I hope you enjoy the book and appreciate your feedback, I’m humbled and grateful by what people are saying about how it has helped them. 

This book will encourage you to pave your own path, be bold, and find personal freedom outside societal stereotypes. 

–-Virginia Novak, BSN, Clinical Researcher 

Tabitha’s engaging journey of personal growth, spiritual acknowledgment, and physical distance resonate with 21st century challenges. Her book has great value for everyone who is open to embracing the liberation of their own innate energy.

—William S. Owen, Former Senator, TN 

For those of us seeking answers on this journey through life, Trust Your Animal Instincts helps us find the courage to let go of the "shoulds" permeating our lives and to clarify and listen to the universal source at the center of us all.

— Bo Bass, President, Beaux Land Development Services 

This inspiring book made me realize the incredible power each of us has within us and how to use it to stay positive amidst all the uncertainties of change.

—K’Leetha Gilbert, Science Instructor, Davidson County - Metro Nashville Schools 

A well-written story of self-exploration that led Tabitha to start a new and more fulfilling life. She uses her excellent storytelling skills to share the wisdom she gained on her journey and tops it off with guides for you to do your own journeys without having to leave the house. A worthwhile read.

— Victoria E. Slater, RN, PhD, AHN-BC, CHTP/I 

Trust Your Animal Instincts takes the reader on an amazing journey through burnout and self-doubt to faith, courage and the discovery of life's energy and how it brings our total being together.

— Michael Modrak, Author and Playwright

Media Release: June 23, 2020

Local Nashville Female Business Leader Launches New Venture
Services will help businesses and individuals power their potential

(Nashville, TN - June 23, 2020) - Local female business leader, Tabitha A. Scott, today launched a new venture called Powering Potential. The company will provide services aimed to ignite the untapped potential of businesses and individuals.

"The entire purpose of this new venture is to help people recharge their life and ignite their personal power," said Tabitha. "I'm excited to share decades of experience, research, and reflection on this topic in a way that is accessible to everyone. Especially now, during unprecedented uncertainty and accelerated change in the world, personal energy is becoming even more critical to each of us."

Speaking engagements and collaborative workshops are customized depending on client needs and will introduce topics such as identifying and overcoming negative influences, protecting and amplifying positivity, and maintaining an optimal balance. Tabitha will be joined by longtime partners Neil Rodgers and Trent Strobel, both internationally-known experts on dealing with uncertainty, avoiding burnout, increasing productivity, and boosting innovation.

"From the most ancient truths to the most modern science and tools, we can increase personal positivity in a way that hasn’t been done before," added Tabitha. "It's been remarkable to see how our workshops impact Fortune 500 employees at all levels, women's groups, and even faith-based audiences."

Tabitha is in the final stages of writing her first full-length book, Trust Your Animal Instincts, that will be released August 19, 2020. The book explores Tabitha's personal journey with social pressures, political differences, accelerating technologies, and burnout. It provides readers a way to tap into their own energy to recharge their lives and maintain a more positive balance.

For more information about Powering Potential, click here. To inquire about speaking engagements or workshops, click here.

About Tabitha A. Scott

Tabitha A. Scott is an international author, speaker, and advisor on powering personal potential. Her book, Animal Instincts, is set to be released in 2020.  Formerly CEO of Cole Scott Group and Military Assistance Company, and SVP of Innovation & Sustainability at global companies Balfour Beatty Investments and Lend Lease Americas, she has deep experience bringing inspirational messages to professional, female-focused, and faith-based audiences. 

Tabitha is known as the Original Energist for her groundbreaking expertise in leveraging the principles of modern and ancient energy to accelerate innovation, productivity and personal potential. Tabitha led efforts to create the world’s largest solar-powered community and was recognized for her numerous innovative uses of advanced technology at the White House. She has published dozens of original works in leading industry publications, like the Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, the Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering and Technology, and CEO Magazine on energy, behavior change, and leadership development. 

Tabitha was credentialed as a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers, in Blockchain through MIT, and holds numerous certifications in human bio-field medical practices. She has a bachelor's degree in Finance from University of Louisville, a master's degree in Bank Management from the Graduate School of Retail Bank Management at the University of Virginia, and an MBA from Fairfield University. She is also certified by European-based Human Insight as an AEM-Cube consultant.

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Sugted social media post:

Female Business Leader in Nashville (tag Tabitha on channel) Launches Powering Potential to help individuals and companies discover and ignite their untapped potential >>> read more here >>>

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3 Tips to Protect Yourself Energetically from the Coronavirus

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The Coronavirus pandemic has the entire world off-balance. Beyond its obvious physical implications, an incurable virus spreading at an alarming rate, a second wave of panic lies unseen beneath the surface. There is a reason why we’re feeling out of sorts, anxious, and drained, and it starts with acknowledging the ongoing attack on our personal energy. While quantum science has proven we simply are energy, few stop to consider the very real need to protect our energetic as well as physical selves. 

Physical attacks and energetic attacks are both destructive. But while a physical attack may be easily observed, an energetic attack deals with complex emotional and intuitive perceptions, so it may be felt but not initially seen. Over time, allowing too much energetic dissonance (pressure) creates burnout, anxiety, illness, or a number of other physical manifestations. 

Increased negative forces created by the Coronavirus impact our energy in a number of ways. Do you feel anxious after reading about Coronavirus? Does the worry of those around you amplify your own stress? Those are natural reactions to negative energy (lower vibrations). What you’re feeling is the release of your positive energy (higher vibration) to “fill the gap” energetically. Physics explains this phenomenon in the Second Law of Thermodynamics: As pressure is applied to a system, it becomes more disorderly and releases energy, becoming colder. 

Let’s use water as a way to visualize feeling “frozen in fear” energetically by the Coronavirus. Assume our normal operating state is as water, then suddenly we are surrounded on all sides by much colder conditions. If we don’t protect ourselves, we’ll literally stop moving, turning into ice. While we know from Einstein that, “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another,” the negative pressures from the pandemic have created a massive force that is literally changing the form of our positive state. 

Consider another aspect of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, a disordered system cannot get back into its original state, but the molecules released during change may form into something more orderly with newly found energy. I live in the Germantown neighborhood of Nashville. We have endured both devastating tornados and the deadly Coronavirus all at once. While none of us can go back to feeling exactly as we did before the events, we can choose to do something productive with the energy created from the fallout. 

We all have the power to protect and recharge ourselves. My hope is that these 3 tips will help you and your loved ones regain balance and stay strong during these difficult times. 

Protect your own positive energy with an invisible shield. 

Imagine an invisible shield surrounding yourself. The chaos, anxiety and pressures from energetic threats charge forward and slip around you on all sides. You remain protected from harm. While being aware the virus exists as a threat, imagining an invisible shield to protect from the draining vibe around us can literally help prevent loss of your positive energy, worry, and stress. 

Redirect your energy with something that feels better. 

Ever witness a boxing match when one opponent is swinging wildly at the other, but he keeps moving out of the way and avoiding the punches? We can do the same energetically. This doesn’t mean we leave the ring of the battle; it doesn’t mean we’re ignoring the very real risks, but it does mean we have avoided some painful blows by ducking out of harm’s way. Do this by distracting your energy away from negative blows with games, watching favorite shows, exercise, painting, writing, playing music, or any activity that makes you feel good. The better you feel, the higher your vibration. 

Recharge. 

With so much negative energy abounding, it’s critical that we recharge ourselves. The three techniques below can help you feel revived and protected, they were first published in articles I wrote for Trainingmagazine and Beckers Hospital Review years ago. 

Choose something in your life for which to be grateful and focus on that feeling. Our brains are naturally wired to remember the negative occurrences because from an evolutionary standpoint, it helps us reduce risk and protect ourselves (like remembering the sound of a rattlesnake). When the mind is completely occupied in gratitude, however, it cannot simultaneously feel burnout. This conscious shift to gratitude helps “rewire” our outlook and recharge personal energy.
Believe that you can affect your life in a positive way. Research shows our positive beliefs alone can recreate the effects of drugs, reduce pain, improve relationships, and boost overall well-being. Quantum cognition also reinforces the fact that our personal observations and behaviors shape the world around us. In short, focus your energy in the belief that you are making a difference, healing your community, and accomplishing positive things. 
Take time for bio-field balancing, prayer, or other spiritual practices. They are proven to significantly improve physical and mental well-being. Each of these practices is rooted in the simple, abundant, and endless supply of universal energy. The source of this “Light” is referenced in many religions and traditions dating back to the origins of mankind. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week—we just have to be still long enough to tap into it. 

It’s natural to feel off-balance with the Coronavirus fear all around us, but don’t forget about the unseen impact it is having on your energy and well-being. Remember to protect yourself, redirect your energy, and recharge. And, P.S., you’re not alone because we are all energetically connected and I’m sending you an abundance of love.

Diversity = Dollars

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Every company wants to improve profitability. The language of the dollar is spoken around the world. There are thousands of studies that prove diversity increases our chance for long term survival and success. Think about it ecologically, the more variation in a forest, or among a species, the better its chances to thrive over time. Consider an investment portfolio, increased diversity means reduced risk. If every good leader or manager knows this, then why are we seeing mixed results with our diversity efforts? 

Let’s admit it. The range of emotions stirred by the mere word “diversity” range from empowerment to resentment. Our society has become diversity fatigued with its ongoing attempts to drive equality based on demographics—ethnicity, gender, age etc. But, what if we had tools that avoid traditional bias while increasing diversity? We do! 

Let’s look at the face of diversity differently—through the lens of how we think.  If we want real change, we need to present positive solutions that improve respect and diversity for everyone, and that are relevant and actionable.  Cognitive-based tools have been around for decades, but until now have not been used effectively to align employee strengths with organizational strategy. 

New tools, like the AEM Cube model, identify how people are naturally energized, show the S-Curve of leadership team dynamics, and identify gaps in corporate strategy. Companies that align employee strengths with their desired strategy have more engaged team members, less burnout, increased productivity, greater agility, and yes--they make more money. According to the Harvard Business Review, these tools, like the Human Insights’ AEM Cube, make for smart business. And, remember the strengths from diversity of all types also equates to dollars.

Tabitha A. Scott CEM, CDSM, Founder & CEO Powering Potential

Organization Energy: Beyond Innovation

The required pace of change in today’s organizations demands innovation more than ever before, yet innovation is only one of four sources of organization energy that can accelerate successful change. 

Organizations of all sizes share a common life cycle, comprising phases of initiation, growth, maturity and decline with possible eventual renewal and a new initiation phase. This life cycle process may be mapped over time along an S-shaped growth curve where innovation represents just one contribution along the journey. Importantly, for an organization to thrive in the long run, it must successfully make the leap onto a new growth curve before reaching the end of its decline phase. 

Movement among the phases of the growth curve requires energy which I call Organization Energy. Organization Energy comes in several forms, and people are energized in different ways. Employers need energy in the right place to maximize their current strategy, and employees want to be in roles where they deploy their natural preferences most powerfully. When strategy and strengths are aligned, talent retention improves, and potential is actualized. 

While it is well known that the right mix of culture and capable employees are required for progress, not much has been said about energy potential for productive change. What if you could identify untapped resources already within your organization?  The AEM-Cube is a cybernetic, ethology-based tool that does precisely that. It measures what drives behavior and unveils “heat maps” that identify where the highest energy potential exists in an organization. Innovation is one of four drivers that, along with awareness and leverage, can ignite improved efficiency, agility, relationships, and use of technology. 

The four dynamic types of energy potential are: 

Innovation—activated by exploration, change, movement 
Optimization—activated by creating efficiencies, structure, scalability 
Social—activated by relations with other people 
Elemental—activated by product and content focus 

The heat map below represents data that may be gleaned from the AEM-Cube tool. This illustration is similar to that of a large U.S. engineering company. 

[image error]Assume the company wanted to innovate and tried various ideation programs to little avail. Upon identifying where the energy potential exists, this organization now realizes that: 

80% of employees prefer optimization to innovation. In other words, they get into action by creating efficiencies, refining, stabilizing, and executing existing processes (not by creating, exploring, and innovating). Their employees would naturally shine at Kaizen, Lean Six Sigma, or continuous improvement. 
71% of employees exhibit elemental energy, preferring to focus on the product, technology, or content side of the business. They naturally thrive in systems development or product improvement. 

Understanding an organization’s heatmap is the first step to identifying energy potential that is often at best underexploited or at worst ignored completely. For example, employees with all types of energy potential are capable of innovating, but those who naturally prefer exploration will do it more quickly and with less structure. To successfully innovate, the engineering company represented by this heatmap would need a proven process with clearly defined structure, rules, and goals. Preferably, it would also involve product, technologies or systems development as the topics around which to focus ideation efforts. 

The AEM-Cube further links two of the four types of energy potential to the growth curve, making it possible to engage individual strengths in tandem with corporate strategy. Depending on where your organization, product or service sits along the growth curve, it may need innovation or stability. Every person is energized by some degree of innovation (exploration and change) or optimization (scaling and stability). If your organization is at the mature part of the growth curve, then execution, efficiency and stability would be highly valued attributes. Programs like Kaizen, Lean Six Sigma, and continuous improvement are most important in maximizing the profitability in those environments. [image error]

Companies looking to leap onto a new growth curve, with a contemporary product, service, or market, need employees and leaders who are energized by exploration, innovation, inquisition and execution. Focusing on either extreme of the growth curve alone, however, leaves untapped potential on the table. 

As an international speaker and advisor on innovation, as well as a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers, it became more obvious to me over time and with exposure to hundreds of thousands of clients, customers, and leaders, that energy is the source of all mega-trend management movements like: Kaizen, Lean Six Sigma, Design Thinking, Agile Teams, and countless others. Identifying organizational energy preferences, and igniting its potential, leads to a better understanding of how to engage employees most powerfully and ultimately, increased profitability. 

Tabitha (Crawford) Scott, CEM, CDSM 

CEO, Powering Potential 

As former CEO of Military Assistance Company, and SVP Innovation & Sustainability at global companies Balfour Beatty Investments and Actus Lend Lease, Tabitha leverages years of successful experience with innovation program leadership, leader development, and powering organizational potential. She is also an energy expert, as a credentialed Certified Energy Manager®, Certified Demand Side Manager®, and is responsible for implementation of the world’s largest rooftop solar community. While helping dozens of companies become more agile, Tabitha is an international advisor and speaker on energy, change management and innovation, with several published works.