Jon Gordon is a speaker who focuses on creating positive work environments.

I recently heard him talk about “Energy Vampires.” These are the people on a team who can drain the energy from everyone else with their negative attitude or lack of effort.

He recounted a recent experience speaking to a college football team. At the end of the session, the head coach stood up, dismissed the team, and singled out ten people to stay.

Gordon asked the coach what was going on. The coach responded, “Those are my Energy Vampires.”

Gordon continued, “You’re going to talk to them now?”

“Oh, yeah,” the coach replied. “Why wait?”

Why wait, indeed? We often tolerate people who drain energy from an organization more than we should.

Once you recognize their impact, “Energy Vampires” are easy to identify. Everyone knows who they are.

So, the question is, why wait? Why not address the issue and seek to change it? Leaders and teammates alike have the responsibility to make the energy environment as positive as possible. One way to do this is to challenge the Vampires. Change their direction or move on. Keeping them around benefits no one.

Another thought: you might read this and immediately identify yourself as an “Energy Vampire.” You can change that attitude in a minute.

It’s on you. Don’t wait for the challenge. Get on with it yourself.

-Howe Q Wallace Jr