As a solo entrepreneur, being in charge of everything all the time can be taxing, and for some of us, mustering up the motivation to be there every single day isn’t going to be easy. Some days you might not want to get out of bed. It gets lonely, being the only one in charge. You are essentially the one who is supposed to have all the answers all the time. Don’t let dwindling motivation sneak up on you!
As a leader you’re going to need to arm yourself with an effective plan to fight off the business owner blues and keep your energy on point. What’s more, if you have employees, sometimes they need someone to pump them up and encourage them to ‘keep on keeping on’.
Personal Motivation Tactics
Below you’ll find four different strategies to rev up your own energy and motivation levels. Everyone is different, so what works for you might not work for another. The thing is, you’ll never know how effective anything will be unless you are willing to give it a whirl!
1) Musical Intervention: Remember the Dolly Parton song “Workin’ 9 to 5”? It’s a catchy tune and most people can’t help but sing along. Find your musical muse. Some are stimulated by orchestra while others prefer some gritty grunge rock to get the blood flowing. Whatever your preference, crank up the volume and get moving!
2) Remember Your Why: All too often we get caught up in the daily grind of building an empire and forget the whole reason we are here. Reflect on your reasons for diving into the world of entrepreneurial bliss. Go back to the basics. Your eyes will light up with excitement and you’re sure to rescue your motivation.
3) Mantra Magic: You might think it silly at first, but a mantra is pretty powerful. Did you develop a mission statement for your start-up? It’s basically the same thing when you think about it. You want power words that speak to your soul about who you are, your capabilities and your desire to make this happen. Your company mission statement does the same, right? It defines the purpose of your company. Define your purpose.
4) Replay Good Memories: Okay, so maybe you can think of an unpleasant task that was a lot of work and you didn’t enjoy. Counter the negativity with a good memory from the task instead. Maybe it’s something funny someone said, or something you did. Find a good memory and roll with it. It will make your upcoming task much easier to get started on.
Motivation Strategies in Leadership
Now let’s dive into how to motivate your people. They are only human, and chances are, they are going to need more than a pat on the back and a paycheck to keep pushing for your dreams.
1) Appreciation = Motivation: You want to motivate people? Show them appreciation! These people are your teammates. They are the individuals you rely on to make your dream come true. Don’t for a minute forget that they too need encouragement and appreciation. Long gone are the days of tangible gifts.
Give your team something they can use, like some comp-time or offer to have lunch brought in. It’s all about the perks! Perks keep your people loyal, and motivated!
2) Vision Board: A vision board isn’t just for you! Your team of people want to see where their hard work is going too. Put your vision board out in an area where they can see it and document the progress. Be excited when you talk about how far you all have come in realizing your dream, and make sure they know they have been a great factor in the company’s success.
3) Visual and Auditory Stimuli: Lime green is the color of motivation and growth. Light blue is the color for freedom, self-expression and joy. Gray is quiet and conservative. Black is power and control. Choose your visual stimuli wisely. And the same goes for auditory, in a sense. The noises you hear play a part in your blood pressure, stress levels and how well you are able to concentrate. If music is an option in your line of business, choose something that will enhance performance and energize your employees.
Keeping motivation and energy alive for you and your team takes practice. Over time you’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t, and truth be told, you’re going to have to change up your methods from time to time. You’ll also find it’s well worth the investment!
