What do you do if your motivation as a leader is at an all-time low?

Acknowledging the burnout and lack of motivation is the first step. Next is, acting on it. Embrace self-care, lean on your support network, reevaluate your goals, and rediscover your purpose. This is how you can lead by example.

Take some time to reflect on the underlying reasons for your low motivation. Consider factors such as burnout, work-related stress, lack of fulfillment, personal challenges, or external pressures. : Reconnect with your purpose as a leader and the reasons why you chose to pursue your current role. Remind yourself of the impact you can make, the goals you aim to achieve, and the values that guide your leadership. Set new, meaningful goals that align with your values, passions, and aspirations. Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable milestones to maintain momentum and track progress.

This can be difficult. As a leader, we're trained to focus on solutions, not problems. By focusing on solutions we're able to frame problems into actionable items that we, or our team, can work to solve. We internalize the mindset that there is no problem, only solutions. But sometimes there is a problem hurting your motivation. 3 ways to identify the problem: 1) search for your responsibility. Are you the problem? Can you find an area that requires you to take responsibility to move forward? 2) AFTER assessing your responsibility, look for external contributors to the problem and label them, fearlessly. A boss? Office politics? Something else? 3) Trust your gut. You likely know the answer intuitively. Face it, bravely.

Is your performance in line with your values? You can work for a great company, but if your work doesn’t align with your highest values you will be miserable. Look first in the mirror. If you aren’t living your values then identify that course correction. If you can’t identify your values then you have to do the deep work of identifying values, vision, mission and purpose. A mentor or coach can be of assistance.

It's essential to recognize the root cause of challenges that may diminish one's motivation to persist along their path. Taking time for introspection is equally vital for personal growth, based on my experience. Moving forward entails reflecting to evolve. If something no longer ignites motivation, it may warrant pausing to reflect. This doesn't imply a prolonged period of inactivity; rather, it's about taking a moment to understand your journey—where you've been, where you're headed, and the necessary adjustments to support your aspirations. In one of my blogs, I do say do to move forward and reflect to grow .

The first step toward growth and advancement as a leader is to solicit assistance and criticism. Express your demands clearly, and don't be embarrassed to ask for assistance.

Having a supportive team that you can talk to and be transparent about it is rare and super important. It can be one person- this will still help you to take it out of your chest and will bond you as you will show vulnerability. Talking to your coach, therapist or even family can also help.

When you seek support, look at the 3 levels of response: managers, team, and mentors. Each one can provide a different perspective. Managers perform their review from a perched and can see if you are about to step on any traps that they may have seen before. Team can help you adjust your leadership based on their “feel” from you and how you show up to them. This can be the most important voice, perhaps, because they are the people that have to make your vision come to life. If they don’t feel supported, they cannot best support you. Mentors provide a sounding board for you to voice fears and abate your concerns. What you can’t say to the team, you can say to them. Be careful which voice you give to which level.

Get support from the relavant people and take some advice from others and make feedback. Get to the point and straight to the objectives

Seeking support at this level as a leader is extremely crucial however in my experience I will be a 100% honest with you as you read this article and know that high-performance leaders and a lack of motivation usually a couple with some form of addiction. So seeking support and feedback is very difficult for a leader at this level. I know that as you read this article, you probably know of some Over 65% of leaders have some form of addiction to help them sleep at night and if they can wake up and do it again in the next day. Support and feedback for a litre is extremely important whether that be from a coach a mental therapist or even a counsellor they need somebody to download and the sound. This is my specialty

One thing I find helpful when I need an energy and motivation boost at work is to focus on excellent work that others are doing and send them a note of recognition and appreciation for their efforts. By thinking about the great work a colleague is doing, I get the gift of some energy and a reminder that I am not in a silo, and by letting them know I appreciate what they are doing, they get the gift of recognition. I know it seems simple, but it works.

it is important to remember that leadership isn't always easy, and it's okay to experience loneliness and frustration at times. Having a clear vision and purpose can indeed help you and your team stay focused and motivated, even during challenging times. It's essential to communicate this vision effectively and foster a supportive environment within your team to overcome obstacles together.

No Purpose - No Power! I've experienced moments of low motivation. In those times, reconnecting deeply with the essence of my Purpose (that is Identity, Mission, Vision, and Values) became my survive & soar kit. I would ask myself "who in the World would need your inspiration of heart work the most?" The first name that popped up was the person I would call right away. The results are amazing - on both ends!

When you focus on, - Should do - Must do - Need to do, You are bound to experience anxiety, exhaustion and eventually burnout. Spend some time to understand your authentic values. When you align with your values and purpose, you access Flow and face challenges with ease.

It’s always about your goals,your vision and the mission you set out on,it’s ok to slow down,it’s ok to feel blah,it’s ok to not be ok,but always remind yourself the real reason why you are here and you will get right back on track!

I believe that prioritizing realistic goals is equally important. Many leaders get burned out trying to achieve an organizational goal that even the organization does not care enough about to support. If it’s not your bosses priority, then it shouldn’t be yours. This is separate from personal driven goals of course. Chip away towards expected long-term achievements while investing real time into the closer targets. Allocating too much energy and resources to projects not as important right now could have a negative impact on short term goals.

I find this very interesting. A leader in this position has to go back to basics so setting realistic and achievable goals is crucial. However we need to expand on this. See high-performance leader can get stuck in their head. There is three things that they need to focus on setting realistic and achievable goals. Number one they are superior to others in a way that makes them already a leader Number two they fear that they will never be good enough however reality is they already are and number three. They need to stay ahead of the game by pushing their limits, this is one of the areas that makes an exceptional lead, so losing motivation. So being realistic about pushing the boundaries.

Realistic goals are a must lest you set yourself up for failure/disappointment. Just as important is having an accountability system in place.

One of the primary responsibilities of a leader is to maintain clarity of mind and consistently prioritize tasks that align with their objectives. Simply racing around thinking that we've got too much to do is counterproductive. It's about making daily choices to select the most impactful tasks and execute them with persistence. While we often excel at creating extensive lists of goals, we may struggle with decisiveness or inefficiency in prioritizing tasks that drive progress forward.

Good sleep can save you from negative feelings and I couldn't stress this more. Nutrition, sleep and working out might seem impossible when your mood isn't the best but cognizing that if you push yourself they will bring you those positive feelings you are missing is true discipline.

Taking care of yourself if critical. Upon some self reflection, I realised that I was mentally and physically exhausted a few months ago. I stripped everything back and paused anything that was not neccesary. I delegated other tasks that could be delegated. I slowly, but surely, recovered my "mojo" are are now in the process of starting everything back up whilst keeping a close eye on myself. There is nothing wrong with taking a step back and into a self care mode. At times, it is essential.

There are difficulties and loneliness that come with being at the top. The obligations and demands that come with being in a leadership role or having accomplished great success can frequently cause people to feel alone. Establishing a network of support and giving self-care first priority are crucial in overcoming negative emotions and preserving equilibrium. The feeling of isolation that might occasionally accompany achievement or leadership positions can be lessened by keeping in mind to engage with people and pursue deep connections.

Taking work breaks is important especially when you are in strategic or management or any decision making role in a company and many employees are dependent on you, So scheduling time for some activities outside work will help you regain ur energy back

I can’t recommend therapy enough for leaders. Sure, coaching is great but it doesn’t always get down into the root of the problem. Speaking to someone with psychological expertise means you can explore parts of yourself that might be hidden, traumatised or hurt. This kind of self reflection isn’t easy but it’s worth it in the long run. Find someone you connect with and feel safe with and a mental healthcare plan is always available.

Lock in.

Não é incomum passar por momentos de baixa motivação, e o importante é reconhecer isso e tomar medidas para superamos os momentos de energia baixa. Além dos pontos citados, acredito que envolver-se em atividades inspiradoras é uma boa maneira de se motivar. Buscar atividades que o inspirem e reenergizem: ler livros e filmes inspiradores, participar de eventos de desenvolvimento pessoal ou encontrar hobbies que o ajudem a relaxar e se divertir. Essas ações além de trazer de volta a energia podem exercitar a criatividade e contribuir para abordagens mais fora da caixa e um ambiente mais propício para inovação.

What always helps me is reconnecting with my inner purpose and seeking guidance through meditation or prayer. Reflecting on my journey and the bigger picture often reignites my spirit and motivation. Additionally, immersing myself in the practice of gratitude and the lessons learned along the way helps deepen my connection to a more spiritual level, reminding me of the larger impact and meaning behind my work.

A person will never be motivated if they are constantly waiting for approval from others for the work they have done. If you set out to accomplish something, see it through to the finish. Ignore what people will say or think about you. It shouldn't affect the way you think or what you decide. Finally, give up comparing yourself to other people.

When my motivation is low as a leader,I tackle it head-on with diverse strategy to reignite my passion & drive.I delve into activities that inspire& invigorate me.This involves taking short breaks to clear my mind,reflecting on past triumphs to bolster my confidence,talk to my mentors.Also I blv in law of attraction &follow in my daily routine,engaging in self-affirmation to cultivate a positive mindset & attract success.Being a fitness enthusiast,I prioritize regular,intense workouts,esp weightlifting,not just for physical fitness but also as a means to alleviate stress & enhance mental clarity.Through all these,I effectively overcome moments of low motivation & emerge stronger,refocused,& fully prepared to lead with renewed vigor & Enthu.