One of the most important characteristics of a good leader is to be a motivational manager. Motivational managers have the ability to inspire their employees to be the best they can, to help their employees advance their performance, to encourage hard work and passionate contribution, and more importantly, to lead as a prime example of motivation.
Motivation for bosses can come from all different sources — their dedication to the company, the rewarding recognition, the huge dollar bill they receive, etc. Many people may say that it is easier for managers to be motivated than for the employees. However, like the saying goes: “With great power comes great responsibility” (Voltaire), business leaders also have to take charge of many more people and consequences that the company brings. The current situation of the pandemic has made it more difficult to be motivational managers, let alone to motivate your employees. This is a universal problem that many bosses have been facing and unfortunately, some have failed. Therefore the real question is, how can business leaders be motivated when all their drive is dying out?
>> Read more: How to keep your employees motivated during COVID-19
First thing first, it is important to remind yourself what motivation really is.
Many people believe that motivation is a product of their own superior mental strength and discipline. Thus, when many bosses feel drained with the constant Zoom meetings and the out-of-touch chains of emails, they doubt themselves about whether they have enough drive and ambition to continue leading at all. As a result, many managers become very dangerously self-conscious and believe that there is something wrong with them. But that’s untrue. Motivation is just another primal emotion people feel when chemical reactions in their brains produce dopamine. Our behavior can make these reactions more likely, but we can’t force them.
Secondly, it is important for managers to understand that, in hard times like this, they have to be realists.
According to an article in Wall Street Journal on positive thinking, Gabriele Oettingen, a New York University psychology professor and the author of “Rethinking Positive Thinking,” isn’t a fan of this mindset. “Our mind is very powerful,” Dr. Oettingen says. “If we imagine really hard, we can really experience it. We feel accomplished and we relax because we’re already there.” While positive thinking is an essential mindset to have as managers, it can be very counterproductive as they will no longer feel the need to work as hard anymore because they have unconsciously believed a success that has not been achieved. Moreso, it can also be mentally detrimental when leaders could not reach the goals that they thought they had already completed in their mind and were severely disappointed in themselves. As a consequence, bosses may transfer that negative energy onto their employees. Dr. Oettingen’s advice for reaching goals and boosting motivation is to strike a balance. It is OK to fantasize about how things could be, but only to a certain point. The trick is to devote equal time to figuring out how to overcome the real, specific obstacles in your way.
Thirdly, in order to be motivated with future endeavors, managers should learn to embrace the discomfort.
Managers are self-programmed to keep the company running smoothly and comfortably so when this complex and unusual crisis hits, many may feel utterly confused and even completely lost. While business leaders usually encourage employees to try new things and not be afraid to make mistakes, they are the ones who limit themselves from failure because of the huge impact and consequences their failures may carry. What leaders must recognize, however, is that the only way to reach true excellence is to push yourself to the very edge of your abilities. And when you’re out in the field, you’re bound to be uncomfortable. As a result, how well you function under duress is determined by how well you control your own discomfort. Carrying this mindset and belief will truly help managers feel more comfortable with their discomfort and motivate them to keep going.
Lastly, managers need to allow themselves moments to feel proud of the work that they and their team have successfully finished.
The pandemic has robbed corporate culture of their time to rest and celebrate people’s contributions. Thus, as motivational managers, it is important to remember virtually patting their employees and themselves on the back. Managers are always responsible for reminding everyone else to be proud, it is never easy for them to take a second to be pleased with their dedication because usually, there is no one else to remind them of that. Therefore, in order to stay motivated, business leaders have to grant themselves the recognition and moments of accomplishments that they truly deserve.
>> Read more: Do You Have Traits of A Good Leader?
Being in the position of a leader has never been easy. And being in that position while juggling with the challenges of both personal and professional lives during a pandemic is definitely not either. It may get lonely at times when the only person who is motivating you is yourself. But if you really think about it, there are many other people in the same position who may be feeling the same way as you so you are not the only one. (Hope that helps!)
Remind yourself of the reason why, beyond all that superficial means, you are doing what you do and how much have you done to get to this place right now. Motivation, after all, comes from you
Bibliography:
Walker, Sam. “Forget Positive Thinking: How Sweatpants Managers Can Stay Motivated.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 9 Jan. 2021, www.wsj.com/articles/forget-positive-thinking-how-sweatpants-managers-can-stay-motivated-11610168445?mod=searchresults_pos5&page=1.
The JobHopin Team