Motivating yourself

Nobody is coming to motivate us.

In an ideal world, every day would start with a leader reciting a stirring speech to inspire us to success.

Sadly, that’s not the case. It’s usually someone trying to do their best with skills that they don’t have. Often, they’re waiting for inspiration themselves.

Regardless of what we do, the only people responsible for our motivation are the people looking back at us in the mirror every morning; and as author Dan Pink elegantly put it in his book Drive, ‘Becoming ever better at something you care about is not lined with daisies and spanned by a rainbow.’ It’s difficult but necessary work.

When we find intrinsic motivation (i.e. the feeling of drive within), it changes everything. Small improvements in who we are and what we do lead to autonomy, mastery, and ultimately engagement - not only in the role, but towards the organisation's goals.

Leaders don't wait for motivation. They develop their mindset and create their own conditions where they can show up every day, ready to do their best work.