Leaders are influencers and one of the
intrinsic traits of leaders is their ability to motivate others. Before
motivating others they are also self starters and self motivators. Some key
principles that help them keep the inner fuel burning in leaders are identified below:
1. Clarity in Vision
A clear vision helps you to remain focused and hopeful about the future, even as an entrepreneur when things don’t go as planned. Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision. Ronald Reagan once said “To grasp and hold a vision, that is the very essence of successful leadership—not only on the movie set where I learned it, but everywhere.”
2. Being Response Able
A responsible person who is capable to respond with maturity. Taking onus is not child’s play; nobody else can be blamed for failures. Being able to take one for the team and own the consequences of your decision builds character and teaches you to steward power better.
When negative things happen, reminding yourself that this is a lesson and what others say about you is not necessarily true. Choosing to forgive yourself and compelling yourself to recreate, re-innovate takes courage. Even if it runs contrary to our emotions. It is easier to give up, but a leader chooses to act instead of let himself of the hook easily.
3. Mapping a future
Setting long term and sort term goals helps to channelize miss-spent energy.
Identifying stages in personal and professional growth beforehand helps you to
create a holding space for future situations and allows you to prepare yourself
in advance.
It is a misconception that motivation is an
external thing, actually it is always intrinsic. The best way to find your
motivation is by answering three questions:
1.
What moves you?
2.
What brings you joy?
3.
What do you dream of doing?
When you have found your answers to these
questions you will have found an inner reservoir of motivation that will last
you a life time.
