SalesMotivation.net

by Mark Sanborn

Life, like business, is a mix of great opportunities and great challenges. To deal with both, a leader needs motivation.

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 helpuncover 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 key to staying motivated begins with this question:

What gives your life meaning?

I have observed that two ofthe 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.

Six Strategies for Self-motivation
There are other techniques you can use to motivate yourself.

1. Renew through relationships As mentioned above, you should never have to sacrifice friendships and family relationships to be a positive influencer. It should alarm you if you are able to maintain businessand social relationships, but fail at staying close to the people who really matter at home.

2. Take time to reflect How many lessons do you miss because you don’t take time to reflect on what is happening in your life and what you can learn from it? At the end of each day, ask yourself what you’ve learned.

3. Dream Don’t let incessant activity push out dream time. While there are those who only dream and never do — the daydreamers — there are also those leaders who are so preoccupied with day-to-day tasks that they lose the fuel of dreaming.

4. Schedule growth-producing activities The only way to grow your impact is by growing yourself. Growth is always accomplished outside of one’s comfort zone. If you only do what you’ve always done, you’ll never master new skills.

5. Take a nap I once heard weariness defined as the exhaustion of pleasure. An important cluethat you need to get caught up on your rest is when the things that formerly gave you pleasure no longer do.

6. Shadow other leaders Learn from leaders you admire. Don’t just read about them — observe them first hand. Find role models worthy of your attention, those who lead in the manner you aspire to lead and those who have impacted others as you desire to influence.

If you want to stay motivated, and help provide positive encouragement and motivation for others, make sure that you have an ongoing program of personal professional development and renewal.

About the Author

Mark Sanborn is an acclaimed speaker and the bestselling author of The Fred Factor: How Passion In Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into theExtraordinary. Visit his websites for free resources at www.FredFactor.com, www.YouDontNeedaTitle.com and www.MarkSanborn.com.