As the leader, you are the one expected to inspire and help your teams to stay motivated during challenging and difficult times. There is an expectation that you remain upbeat and positive.
But what happens if you’re not? What happens when you as leader lose motivation, and you need motivating yourself?
There are various reasons why leaders lose motivation. It could be because they are underutilising their strengths, or it could be that the work they do no longer aligns with their values. It could be that the role is no longer challenging or fulfilling.
There may be issues in your personal life impacting your work life, or it could be that the challenges and pressures of your role are so stressful that you’ve lost the will for it. Whatever the reason, as the one who everyone looks to for direction, if you have lost motivation, you need to do something about it. Failing to do so could create a ripple effect and filter down to your teams and those around you.
Is what you do sufficiently challenging?
Not being sufficiently challenged can negatively affect our motivation. Could it be that you have reached a point where you are no longer challenged by what you do?
I had a client who had reached the level in her career she always wanted, but despite this, she felt demotivated. When explored her values, challenge was important to her and her role no longer challenged her enough. Having identified this, she put things in place to make the role more challenging.
Have you got the balance right?
The more senior you become the harder it can be to have the right balance between work and your personal life. The demands of your role may mean that you spend far too much time on the job, which can affect your motivation.
If you are working excessive hours, it is counterproductive. You may think the more hours you work, the more you will get done. But research shows that those who work 70 hours a week are no more productive than those who work 55 hours a week. Once you start to hit 50 hours a week your productivity levels start to decline.
Whilst it may not be possible to have an equal balance between work and life, re-examine your work-life fit.
Are your strengths underutilised?
Using our natural strengths enhances our well-being. We are more motivated when we use our strengths. Doing more of what you are good at, can have an immediate impact on your motivation at work.
Your weaknesses are another person’s strengths so look at how you can delegate some of the tasks that fall outside your strengths. If delegating is not possible, look at how you can develop yourself in those areas, or even whether those tasks are actually necessary.
Are you feeling stressed?
On promotion to my last leadership role as an employee, l was warned about the dangers of the pressure from being in such a senior role with so much responsibility. I was told that the pressure of the role could slowly creep up on me and before I knew it, I would be feeling the impact of stress.
The person told me about their experience as a busy executive, working excessive hours, they ignored the warnings that they were working too much. But they chose to ignore it. One day they got into their car to drive to work and the next they knew; they were waking up in hospital.
They had passed out and were suffering from exhaustion. This was a warning and a stark reminder to me and something that I vowed not to let happen.
If you are stressed from the pressures and demands of your role, or even if life events are taking their toll on you, find ways to manage the stress. You are not doing yourself any favours if you don’t.
Create psychological flow
Research shows that when we undergo a challenge that stretches our skills, and our skills and ability are sufficient to deal with the challenge, we achieve psychological flow (otherwise known as optimal experience). When this happens, we are happier, more cheerful, stronger, more active, concentrate more, and we are more creative. Being in flow increases motivation.
Some ways in which you can achieve psychological flow are to do more of the things that you are good at and set goals that stretch and challenge you. Immerse yourself in what you are doing and absorb yourself in the task at hand, so it feels like time stands still.
Reconnect with your WHY
What is your vision for your career and life? Are you still aligned with that vision? Reconnect with what it is that is important to you and what you want from your career and life.
Life events may have caused your priorities to change, and what was important to you a few years ago may not be important to you now. It may be time for you to re-evaluate things and figure out what it is that you want now.
As a leader, people look to you for inspiration, but if you yourself are not being inspired or you have lost motivation, this will show. Identify what you can do to increase your motivation, or if it is time to move on, find something else and make that move.
What do you do to increase your motivation? Share in the comments because what you do to motivate yourself may be an inspiration and encouragement to someone else.
