Sorry, but it’s hard to believe at a time when jobs might be at risk that there could be people at work who are bored, and allow it to be known. Or maybe they think their body language is not obvious.
My problem is that I myself feel bored at work and I am supposed to be a role model.
There are some simple, realistic techniques to deal with common motivational issues like boredom, tiredness or burnout… and this could be in yourself, or perhaps in members of your team.
But first let’s look at the signs of low motivation.
Signs of low motivation
There are a range of physical signs – headaches, tiredness and sleep disorders that might suggest low motivation. There are behavioural signs that often suggest problems with motivation – poor productivity, mistakes and inability to concentrate.
Sometimes there are emotional signs – feeling down, depressed or irritated.
It doesn’t mean that these signs are necessarily related to low motivation, but they are often a good indication that something is going on that is affecting a persona’s ability to get work done.
Let’s explore some of the typical scenarios.
Case 1. Bored on the job
A person who is not interested and not engaged will likely benefit from some opportunities for growth and development. So take on some challenges if it is you.
And for managing someone like this; encourage their ideas, consult the team and perhaps try some job swaps if it’s practical as a way to multi-skill team members. If a person is really shutting down and their performance is becoming unacceptable, then manage it, and if they cannot keep up help them move on to something more suitable.
Case 2. Can’t get started
This could be a case of procrastination OR it could be someone lacking confidence to do what is required. Work out what is going on. Uncover if a person feels anxious or is perhaps overwhelmed. Try and get them started (or do this yourself if it is you!).
Bite off a small chunk and get back that feeling of being in control. The longer a task is left, the harder it gets. If you are managing this person provide support and training – talk it through.
Case 3. Tired and no energy
This is often cyclical. It might be happening daily at the end of the day, or towards the end of the week. An important thing to do is examine eating and drinking habits – and drink plenty of water. Don’t skip breakfast; eat healthy snacks not junk food. It may be the quality of food or lack of it that is causing you to have a physical reaction.
Exercise can really help bring back some energy yet too many people assume they have no energy to do any exercise. Try walking a little bit each day. We tend to underestimate the importance of exercise
Case 4. Burnt out
Maybe you are jaded. You’ve heard it all before; you can’t get excited, you feel overloaded. Work is a drag. It could be that this is affecting the whole team and everyone is feeling like this.
Maybe it’s time to tackle the issue as a team. Re-examine all the work and how it is done and by whom. And make some time to have fun together. Maybe re-establish some outside interests and manage long hours back to what is reasonable if this is an issue.
If you are a manager, remember that money is not the only motivator. Recognition motivates! Get to know your team as there may be some simple ways to acknowledge their work that makes you feel good and will certainly boost their morale.
Click here to see the video Increasing motivation at work.
Ruth writes:
Oh wow that sounds exactly like me. I’ve just been promoted to a job that was three people in November. Instead of feeling motivated to take on three times as much work I feel like I’m cocooning. Instead of embracing the situation it seems to be overwhelming me. All of the symptoms you mentioned are there: Lack of sleep, headaches, low motivation, the inability to do the hours I used to. This is my family business. I don’t what to do to get myself out of this funk.
Eve replies:
Hi Ruth. It’s so hard when you get overwhelmed and it is not a good place to be especially in a newish role. Here are a few suggestions:
- Talk to someone inside the business – does this mean it is family? – or go outside the business and find someone you respect (mentor) to get a perspective on your role and your career.
- Get clear on the big picture. What you want to do, what you enjoy, the challenges of the role, the help you might need, a list of things you must do and those that are not possible given the time and resources – that is, focus on the facts not the emotions.
- Set some realistic priorities for work and some personal health and well being priorities and work out how you are going to achieve both sets. And enjoy what you achieve and recognize it’s not all possible. You are sinking and disappointed and your mindset is not helping so you need to get on top of this now – or as soon as possible. YOU need to rescue yourself with a strategy.
- Go back to your management team and make recommendations about what needs to change, what help/resources are needed and what cannot be done and why. Frame it positively. Agree on some realistic milestones.
Ruth responds:
Thank you so much for your advice. I joined SmartCompany about a month ago and have found it very valuable indeed! So many of the articles published are based around the problems I have at the time, it’s like the newsletter is written just for me!
These tips are great. It took me a while to realise what my problem was in the first place, this helps me form a plan of attack!
Kind regards.
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Eve Ash is co-writer of Rewrite Your Life! (published by Penguin) and co-producer with Peter Quarry of the popular DVD Increasing Motivation at Work from the TAKE AWAY TRAINING SERIES. Eve is managing director of SEVEN DIMENSIONS.
For more Eve Ash advice, click here.
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