Q: How can I motivate myself and my team? We are all feeling stale and are finding it difficult to get things rolling again. There seems little to look forward to; no bonuses, very few innovative products and everything feels like a grind. How do I kickstart it all again?
A: First of all, let’s not worry about the team. They are following you so if you feel jaded and worn down, so will they. What you need to think about is energising yourself. Change your mindset and the world will seem a happier place. I know it’s tough at the moment and will be probably for most of this year, but there are plenty of opportunities and ways of doing stuff differently. Be inventive and stop waiting around for someone to take you by the hand and wave a magic wand. It’s up to you.
Imagine that you have just beaten everyone in your favourite sport. Capture the feeling, the smell, the taste, the noise. Think about the energy this will give you and take that leap.
There are many ways to reward yourself and your team. The bonus may well be a past luxury so look for the new rewards. Dig a little deeper and smile. The world doesn’t have to be made up of grumpy old men.
Q: How do I keep my job? Do I keep my head down or do I raise my head above the parapet?
A: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.” This was the cry from a leader of a political party in difficult times, albeit in a different context, and I suspect it’s on the mind of your boss this year.
It’s important to do the numbers (delivering your KPIs) but it’s also vital to be a part of the team, to boost morale and – dare I say – support the boss. You need to ensure you are continually achieving the basics of being utterly reliable, getting stuff done, delivering before deadlines, returning calls and acting as if you own the business. Would you make the same decision if your mortgage depended on it? Be aware of risks but don’t be afraid of making decisions.
Businesses need to move forward, maybe not at the same pace as before but continuing in the right direction. Stalemate is not an option. As entrepreneur and Remington Products owner Victor Kiam once said: “The competition will bite you if you keep running. And if you stand still, they will swallow you.”
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Potentially your business may have to lose some of your colleagues, but if you are part of the engine room of your business as well as its soul, you will be a difficult person to let go.n
If you’ve got a question for Sue, email her at sue@mountstevensexecutivecoaching.com.
A: First of all, let’s not worry about the team. They are following you so if you feel jaded and worn down, so will they. What you need to think about is energising yourself. Change your mindset and the world will seem a happier place. I know it’s tough at the moment and will be probably for most of this year, but there are plenty of opportunities and ways of doing stuff differently. Be inventive and stop waiting around for someone to take you by the hand and wave a magic wand. It’s up to you.
Imagine that you have just beaten everyone in your favourite sport. Capture the feeling, the smell, the taste, the noise. Think about the energy this will give you and take that leap.
There are many ways to reward yourself and your team. The bonus may well be a past luxury so look for the new rewards. Dig a little deeper and smile. The world doesn’t have to be made up of grumpy old men.
Q: How do I keep my job? Do I keep my head down or do I raise my head above the parapet?
A: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.” This was the cry from a leader of a political party in difficult times, albeit in a different context, and I suspect it’s on the mind of your boss this year.
It’s important to do the numbers (delivering your KPIs) but it’s also vital to be a part of the team, to boost morale and – dare I say – support the boss. You need to ensure you are continually achieving the basics of being utterly reliable, getting stuff done, delivering before deadlines, returning calls and acting as if you own the business. Would you make the same decision if your mortgage depended on it? Be aware of risks but don’t be afraid of making decisions.
Businesses need to move forward, maybe not at the same pace as before but continuing in the right direction. Stalemate is not an option. As entrepreneur and Remington Products owner Victor Kiam once said: “The competition will bite you if you keep running. And if you stand still, they will swallow you.”
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Potentially your business may have to lose some of your colleagues, but if you are part of the engine room of your business as well as its soul, you will be a difficult person to let go.n
If you’ve got a question for Sue, email her at sue@mountstevensexecutivecoaching.com.
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