Motivation is, as the word itself suggests, a motive for action. Motivation is, basically, the reasons for what you do. Knowing what to do and how to do it is an important part of leadership, but only two thirds of what makes any leader effective.
You can do the wrong things for the right reasons and the right things for the wrong reasons, but leaders do the right things for the right reasons.
As I’ve spoken with leaders over the years, I’ve often heard them talk about how important it is to motivate others; to keep the fires of passion and commitment burning in their teammates and colleagues.
Leaders help uncover those reasons and provide that motivation for those they influence.
Yet one of the most unaddressed questions of leadership is:
Who motivates the motivator? If the leader motivates others, who motivates the leader?
The answer is that the leader motivates himself or herself.
Do you know how to stay motivated? To get a great answer, begin by asking the ultimate question.
The Ultimate Question
What is the meaning of life?
Philosophers and theologians have devoted their lives to attempting to answer that question. Arguments have ensued and wars have been fought over this question.
It is, indeed, a difficult question to answer.
It is, however, an essential question to wrestle with. Leaders, titled and non-titled alike, need to understand not just what they do, but why they do it.
The objective of You Don't Need a Title... isn’t to answer that question head-on. What I hope to do is provide a question to start with. The key to staying motivated is this:
What gives your life meaning?
I have observed that two of the quickest ways for leaders to burn out is to stop doing what they enjoy and to move away from the people who matter to them.
The more successful you become, the greater the risk that you’ll move into a position that will take you away from doing those things you’re really good at doing, and really like to do. You’ll also assume a greater workload, and there is a possibility you’ll get less time to spend with those you enjoy and care for.
Whenever you start to feel listless and lacking passion, ask yourself, what gives my life meaning? The answer, more often than not, will tell you what you need to do to recapture enthusiasm.
You can do the wrong things for the right reasons and the right things for the wrong reasons, but leaders do the right things for the right reasons.
As I’ve spoken with leaders over the years, I’ve often heard them talk about how important it is to motivate others; to keep the fires of passion and commitment burning in their teammates and colleagues.
Leaders help uncover those reasons and provide that motivation for those they influence.
Yet one of the most unaddressed questions of leadership is:
Who motivates the motivator? If the leader motivates others, who motivates the leader?
The answer is that the leader motivates himself or herself.
Do you know how to stay motivated? To get a great answer, begin by asking the ultimate question.
The Ultimate Question
What is the meaning of life?
Philosophers and theologians have devoted their lives to attempting to answer that question. Arguments have ensued and wars have been fought over this question.
It is, indeed, a difficult question to answer.
It is, however, an essential question to wrestle with. Leaders, titled and non-titled alike, need to understand not just what they do, but why they do it.
The objective of You Don't Need a Title... isn’t to answer that question head-on. What I hope to do is provide a question to start with. The key to staying motivated is this:
What gives your life meaning?
I have observed that two of the quickest ways for leaders to burn out is to stop doing what they enjoy and to move away from the people who matter to them.
The more successful you become, the greater the risk that you’ll move into a position that will take you away from doing those things you’re really good at doing, and really like to do. You’ll also assume a greater workload, and there is a possibility you’ll get less time to spend with those you enjoy and care for.
Whenever you start to feel listless and lacking passion, ask yourself, what gives my life meaning? The answer, more often than not, will tell you what you need to do to recapture enthusiasm.
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