Leaders today are under tons of pressure to produce, perform, and get results. Sadly, the biggest result from all that pressure is burnout and loss of motivation and enthusiasm. Which means it’s important to take steps to help keep that passion burning bright, and if you have recently lost a little spark, get it back! You’ll be a better you and a better leader when you love what you do.
Passion = Strong Leadership
The beautiful thing about passion is that it’s contagious, and when leadership is passionate, it trickles down stream to inspire your team, fuel their motivation, and create resilience when inevitable challenges arise. Leaders set the tone for everyone and with burnout more prevalent than ever, leaders need to rediscover and nurture the spark that got them started on their path in the first place.
Warning Signs of Burnout
There are a few things to look for if you suspect burnout.
- Feeling Physically Drained: When you’re in burnout, your whole body experiences fatigue. You may also struggle with insomnia, headaches, or get sick often.
- Feeling Irritable and Cynical: If you find yourself thinking and feeling negatively about your work and the people you work with, that’s a warning sign.
- Feeling Emotionally Detached: Along with physical fatigue comes feeling emotionally drained and detached, which means a big disconnect between you, your work, and your team.
- Feeling Unproductive: Decreased performance, lack of motivation, lack of creativity, all negatively impact your ability to be productive, lead well, and meet goals.
You need to understand the signs of burnout before you can begin to address them and rekindle your spark to lead.
Rekindling That Leadership Spark
There are a few strategies you can use to get your groove back. While they may seem simple, the truth is, simple is often effective.
Make Self-Care a Priority
Unfortunately, many leaders often sacrifice themselves for the sake of their team, but the end result is burnout and no leader. It’s important to make yourself a priority, to care for your own well-being first, to feed your passion and energy, reduce stress, and ultimately, make you a better leader.
Commit to Continual Growth
Leaders committed to growing tend to view challenges as chances, not setbacks. Through work and commitment, intelligence and abilities can be developed, and when you foster this kind of mindset with your team, the ability to adapt and innovate is amplified. It’s also wise to seek feedback from other leaders on your style and approach and to continually refine the way you lead.
Reconnect with Your Why
Sometimes you just have to look back and remember why you first stepped into your role as a leader. There was probably something that initially drew you into leadership, so reflecting on those goals and values can help you realign and recenter, sparking new verve and sense of purpose.
Build a Network of Support and Connection
Whether its mentors and coaches, or peers and other professionals, a strong network is key to staying connected and motivated. When you build a strong network, it translates over into the connections you also build with your team, leading to stronger bonds with everyone you work with and more motivation for everyone, across the board.
Embrace Delegation and Empower Your Team
Many leaders tend to take on everything, when really, they have a team for a reason. Empower your team to shoulder some of the load and develop their own skills in the workplace. Not only will you be happier and more effective, your team will as well. Fresh perspectives and fresh energy can invigorate everyone, including you. Remember, team work makes the dream work.
Sometimes rediscovering your leadership spark is less about rediscovering your passion and more about figuring out ways to lead that are sustainable and good for everyone, including you. Leadership is a constant journey and requires humility to reflect and adapt. And sometimes, admit you need help.
