Motivating your team when your own mojo is low

Getting back into the work routine after New Year celebrations and an extended period of indulgence can feel like a slog, and with all the motivational (or lack thereof) trends for 2023, it’s no wonder that some might be taking longer to settle into work in 2024.

If you were to consider as well that most of us feel that way around this time of year, it makes you wonder…

What do leaders need to do to motivate their teams when their own mojo is deflated?

Being the person responsible for your team’s welfare, cohesion, and productivity is weighty enough, so what do you do on the days when you’re just not feeling it?

Take a moment to check your mindset

Rather than just turn up and get started, pause to see where your mindset is at. Your beliefs will create the way your day is set up. Is your mindset being created by reality or what you’re feeling? How helpful is your thinking? What else could you think that would be more helpful? How can you plan your day to get quick wins and celebrate them to boost your mood and that of your team?

Use delegation to share the workload

How much of what you need to do needs to be done by you? How good are you delegating? Quite often, it’s hard to stop doing things because you want them done a certain way. Or because you enjoy them, but do you really? Or is it another way of avoiding what has to be done? Who can do it instead? Giving someone in your team more responsibility might boost their motivation, too.

Ah, but what if you can’t delegate it? You’re no doubt very much aware of the various time planning tools available (which can help), but it’s also worth asking yourself whether this task really needs to be done. Not only that, does it need to be done today? If not, could it be planned for another time? Or could it possibly go in the F**k It Bucket? This can take the form of a folder or to-do list of things that appear daily but never get completed. Either do it, delegate it or chuck it in the you know what!

Foster open communication with others

Talk to someone. You are there for your team, but who do you go to for support?

It can get harder to find those people the higher up the ladder you climb, but it’s not impossible. Either speak to a colleague, friend or family member. Alternatively, create peer groups with people from other departments at your level. Share concerns with them, ask for advice, and see what others in your position might do.

You might also get a sense of reassurance realising you are not alone in your worries and potentially build relationships across the business which hadn’t been there before. When we seek help from others during challenging moments, we are reacting positively to our stress response. We get boosts of the positive neurochemical oxytocin, which helps us build trust with the very people offering support.

Become aware of your language, too. When feeling de-energised, you’re more likely to use negative language, e.g., ‘Today is going to be challenging because…’ or ‘This situation is impossible’, which only exacerbates feelings of helplessness.

Now, we’re not suggesting you grab a couple of pom poms and start cheerleading happy mantras, but instead use more positive words (or at the very least less emotional ones) - and instead of looking at obstacles, use curiosity to ask questions and help shift your focus. What part of today will be enjoyable?

What if you’re really stuck in a motivation slump?

• Fake it til you make it!

Did you read that correctly? Fake? When leaders are encouraged to be authentic, transparent and vulnerable? Yep. However, it’s not about a personality reboot - merely a recommendation of a simple smile. Whilst it won’t immediately make you happy, it will start to influence feelings of happiness and bring about the production of endorphins (one of the feel good neurotransmitters the brain releases).

It has to be a proper smile, though, the old holding a pen in the mouth just won’t cut it. Instead, try looking at a photo of family or friends before you leave home or recall a recent moment that made you happy or laugh out loud; anything that will bring about a genuine smile. If people at work see you smiling when you arrive, it might start to make them feel good, too.

If there’s the slimmest of chances you don’t already know about Amy Cuddy’s power-posing, try that too! Holding a powerful stance for two minutes before meetings, presentations or any upcoming stressful situation can increase your testosterone levels, decrease your cortisol, and make you seem more confident than you feel. Who knows, you might even trick yourself into feeling it, too!

• Manage your emotions instead of letting them manage you

Humans are undeniably emotional creatures, and due to the nature of how our brains work, we tend to respond automatically to most things. If we’re feeling strongly about a particular situation (either positively or negatively), that feeling may impact our behaviours, choices, and, ultimately, how that situation turns out.

Instead, shift your focus to your values; what’s important to you as a leader at this time? You might not feel that way at this moment, but you don’t need to have it on show every moment of every day. Just remind yourself why you’re doing this. Sometimes, that can be enough to help you get started.

• Be realistic

There are some days when your productivity will be low. If intrinsic motivation (the enjoyment of the process) isn’t available to you today, don’t yearn for it. Set small, achievable goals, and reward yourself for each one.

Maybe use today as a chance to reflect, with the team, on the positive outcomes from 2023 to boost not only your morale but theirs as well.

• Remember, we’re all human

First off, you work with people, you are a person, so would it be so bad on the odd occasion to admit you’re having a tough day? Where once vulnerability in leadership was shown as a weakness, it’s now very much considered a strength. Demonstrating your vulnerability can create psychological safety within the team and build trust. You are the role model, and your team’s behaviours will reflect yours, so if you want to demonstrate truly human leadership, then you need to show your human side to do it.