The best kinds of leaders understand they must have a strong foundation in order to stay motivated in their careers. It is important for leaders to learn that motivation is something that must be continually developed. Staying inspired is a learned skill for many. Continue reading to learn some ways to be a motivated leader your team can look up to.
Give Yourself Positive Affirmations
Negative self-talk will get you nowhere as a leader. Negativity generally never positions anyone to succeed. When you are in charge of a team, it is essential to give yourself positive affirmations in order to feel encouraged. If your team constantly witnesses you talking down on yourself, how can you expect them to respect you or feel proud of their own work? Just as your subordinates desire to hear encouragement from you as their boss, you should also offer that same positive self-talk for yourself. When this daily practice is put into place, you will feel much more motivated in your job. Even if you do not believe the words you are saying at first, they will eventually become second nature to you, and you will accept them as truth.
Set Your Goals in Place
One of the easiest ways to be motivated is to determine your goals. If you do not have any plans to begin with, how can you be encouraged to achieve anything? Instead of keeping your goals at the back of your mind, make them known verbally and visually. Create a vision board for yourself or write them in a journal. Brainstorm some ways you can achieve your goals and set a timeline for yourself. Putting your dreams out into the universe will give you a much higher chance of success.
Seek Inspiration from Coworkers
Sometimes bosses get so caught up in their desire to lead that they forget to lean on their coworkers for support. While it is important for you to establish your position as a leader, you should also let your subordinates know their ideas and opinions are valued as well. The best way to do this is by actively listening to them and even implementing their suggestions. Hearing ideas from employees who hope to one day be in your shoes will be much more motivating than many bosses realize. The best leaders need to continually seek inspiration from any source available to them. Oftentimes, your subordinates will be a great source of imagination.
Pursue Passions Outside of Work
Another great way to stay motivated in your position is to also put time and energy into activities that refuel you. If you, like most individuals, have a hobby outside of work, make sure you are putting time into this activity. Hobbies are a great way to express yourself and gain some creativity back that you may have lost due to the everyday stresses of life. Stay motivated in your career by having a creative outlet to return to.