The Power Walk, Batteries Included, & More

Are Batteries Included?

A few months ago, I saw a tweet from my friend Jack Altman that sparked my interest.

Jack is the founder and CEO of Lattice, a workforce management platform that was most recently valued at $3 billion in a Series F round in January, so he has real qualifications to talk about hiring and people management—both as a founder of his own company and via the thousands of clients who use Lattice software for their workforces.

One reply to the tweet linked to an article that referred to the concept of "batteries included" (or "batteries not included") employees—a simple play on the toys we used to get as kids, which generally said "batteries included" or "batteries not included" on the box.

The idea is that there are two types of people:

1 - Batteries Included

Come with a built in energy source. They create energy for those around them.

2 - Batteries Not Included

Come without a built in energy source. They rely on others to create energy for them.

While the article focused on employees and the workforce, I think this framework can be extended broadly across relationships, sports, personal development, and more.

It made me think: What are the traits of a "batteries included" individual?

Creates Ecosystem Energy

Inspires others to move through their movement. Their movement puts off a positive charge that creates movement in others. Shows the way through action, not words.

Internally Motivated

Does not need a consistent drip of external motivators or rewards in order to do their job. Creates internal motivation to perform and grow. Finds enjoyment in the growth and process.

Disciplined

Takes pride in doing what they say they are going to do. Recognizes that movement creates motivation.

Consistent

Shows up for the team, day-in, day-out.

Accountable

Takes personal responsibility for the good and the bad. Owns mistakes and improves because of them.

I'm sure there are more, but these were the first that came to mind.

The "batteries not included" individual can be assumed to possess the opposite of these traits. There is probably a spectrum of "batteries not included" to "batteries included", but the reality is that these traits tend to be rather binary from my own experience. People either have them or they don't.

When I zoomed back out and looked at this list of traits, I realized that the "batteries included" individual is the person you always want on your team: as a partner, friend, sports teammate, colleague, employee, or anything else.

This framework may be helpful as a tool for thoughtfully evaluating yourself and those in your life.

Some questions to ask to get started

• Are your batteries included? Are you creating or draining energy from your ecosystem? What steps can you take to create more energy than you consume?

• Who are the "batteries not included" people in your life? Are you allowing them to drain your energy and happiness? Can you take action to remove them from that position of power?

Try this framework out and let me know what you think!

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