Recognizing and Overcoming
ENERGY VAMPIRES
April 11, 2012
24C Coaching & Consulting
Sharon Mylrea
Claudia Orvis
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Workshop Objectives
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Recognize and identify personal “energy vampires”
Understand the physical, emotional, personal and
work-related impacts of being bitten
Develop realistic goals and expectations for effecting
positive change
Discuss tools for increasing positive energy
Identify strategies for dealing with energy-draining
situations
Create a personal action plan
Discuss best practices for organizations
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What’s an “energy vampire”?
A person whose behavior drains emotional energy from
others
 A person/situation that leaves you feeling exhausted,
unfocused, depressed, apathetic …
What are your symptoms? Physical, mental, emotional?
What situations/behaviors are your personal vampires?
When are you most susceptible to energy vampires?
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Recognizing an “Energy Vampire”
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Complains without solutions
Drama queen/king
Victim mentality
Negative outlook on life
Paranoia/conspiracy theorist
The biggest, surest sign is how YOU feel when
interacting with them!
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Impacts of being bitten…
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Drains energy, enthusiasm, creativity
Lower productivity
Cynicism
Paranoia, fear, suspicion
Headaches, pain
Avoidance
Apathy
Taking it out on others
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Realism vs. Pessimism …
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Let’s be realistic !!!
We Can’t …
 Control every situation
 Control others’ behaviors
 Always get what we want
We Can …
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Choose our response to a
situation
Choose our reactions
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Our behaviors
Our words
Our body language
Choose our attitudes
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Here’s your garlic …
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Circle of Influence
Being Proactive
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Circle of Influence
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Reactive vs. Proactive
STIMULUS
STIMULUS
RESPONSE
PAUSE –
Make a CHOICE!
RESPONSE
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Increasing Positive Energy
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Recognition – identifying vampires
Reduce contact
Set boundaries
Listen to understand
Self-awareness
Consciously look for more of what you want
 Maintain positive focus – like attracts like
Focus on solutions (instead of complaining)
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Vampire Slayer Strategies …
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Act and think positively.
Say, "Now tell me something positive”.
Say, “Let’s identify some solutions”.
Make it a rule to only hang out with positive people.
Don't give away your energy. Energy vampires will often
avoid people who don’t give them any energy!
Understand the difference between a problem and a
gripe.
Remember that you are not responsible for others’
attitudes, issues, problems.
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Challenging Scenarios…
Scenario One: You are assigned to a “do nothing”
committee and the leader often acts like an energy
vampire.
Scenario Two: You work directly and daily with an
energy vampire.
Scenario Three: A major portion of your work is
BORING.
Scenario Four: Your regular staff meetings turn into
major complaining sessions.
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My action plan …
Specific behaviors, immediate actions!
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Am I an Energy Vampire?
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What’s my impact on others?
What does my body language say?
How can I be more self-aware?
How are people responding to me?
Have I directly asked for feedback?
Is my self-talk, attitude and/or behavior
draining my own energy?
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Best Practices in Our Organizations …
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Recognize and reward positive behavior
Encourage optimism
Focus on solutions
Be a role model
Use groundrules
Communicate success stories
Raise awareness by discussing
behaviors
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24C Coaching & Consulting
www.two4coaching.com
Claudia Orvis
608.577.2805
[email protected]
Sharon Mylrea
608.225.0676
[email protected]
We believe that life should be lived in
passionate pursuit of one's dreams.
Unfortunately all too often we
leave our talents, and those of the
people we lead, locked in a box and
placed on a shelf. At 24C, we believe
that you hold the key to releasing your
talents and realizing your dreams
- all you need is someone to ask the
right questions and provide the right
tools that will allow you to build on your
strengths to create your own success!
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