I haven’t written much on my blog here in the last few weeks. My house is torn up due to foundation and plumbing repairs, my son was sick for a week, then I was sick several days. Then there’s the usual busy work schedule, getting ready for the kids to start school, and trying to plan the upcoming year for the STC Houston chapter. So, with all of that going on in my real life, my virtual life has taken a hit. And along with that, my motivation for doing anything that’s not an absolute necessity.

My recent lack of motivation and the very busy couple of days I’ve had at work recently made me think about how my lack of motivation affects others. It’s a big part of my job to motivate others. I have lots of initiatives going that need a strong motivator behind them, and several people to motivate, including direct reports and peers. How can I do that, if I’m not motivated myself? And is it okay to have periods of low motivation, or do I need to always be “on”?

In general, I think it’s okay to have brief periods of low motivation, as long as you keep a few things in mind:

• The low-motivation periods should be brief. Two to three weeks, max. Any longer than that, and lack of motivation can turn into despair. If you continue beyond this timeframe with no motivation, something needs to change. Take on a new challenge at work. Read a new kind of book. Pick up a new hobby. Make a new friend. Do something to get out of your daily rut.
• While it’s okay to show your lack of motivation to those you motivate, do so carefully. It’s okay to show your team you’re human and let them know you’re not having the best day (or week). It’s not okay to yell at them when they ask for help, or whine incessantly about how miserable you are. Those behaviors kill their vision of your stability.
• There will be another hill after the valley. Everything ebbs and flows — at both work and in your personal life. Keep in mind your current lack of motivation doesn’t mean the world’s ending, and treat it for what it is, a bump along life’s pathway. Overreacting and turning yourself into a sob story is the quickest way to get others running away from you as quickly as possible.

Here’s how those periods can help you (and those you motivate):

• They let you relax a little. If you’re a Type A personality like me, you’ll likely find it really hard to deal with these periods and feel like you should be doing something that’s making a difference, or you’ll beat yourself up for not being on the top of your game. Allowing yourself some leeway in your emotional drive benefits you tremendously. Moving through the down period instead of fighting it is healthy and helps you deal with later disappointments and rough patches. Relax. Breathe. This, too, shall pass.
• They help you identify with those you motivate and open up communication. When your team members see you let down your hair a little and have a rough time here and there, they are more likely to confide in you when they are having a rough time. Most people can see right through a perpetually perky facade, and prefer more honest communication about how things are going.
• They inspire you to make a change. Often our motivation flags due to stress or boredom. With either catalyst, making a change is a positive step to regaining your motivation and plunging forward.
• They’re the precursors to an increase in motivation. There’s nowhere to go but up when dealing with periods of low motivation. Knowing these periods are temporary and will soon turn around help you get through them.

And some ideas for how to motivate others, even when you’re not feeling motivated yourself:

• Confide in someone that you need some help with motivation. Asking for help is never shameful; it’s a mark of a true leader. No one can handle life on his or her own. We have vast networks of friends, family, co-workers, online buddies, pets, and plants. Use them to their benefit! It’s amazing how good it feels to know someone has your back and will help you through the rough times.
• Find something to praise in someone, then praise them. Focusing on what someone else is doing well takes the spotlight off yourself and what you’re going through. Encourage your team members to share kudos stories and get the good stuff out in the open. People sit around and complain all the time. Be a catalyst for praise, positive thinking, and selflessness.
• Focus on an area that’s going well for you. Even when things are going wrong in multiple areas of your life, there’s always something good. Figure out what it is. Sit down and write a list of your blessings, if you need to. Finding the silver lining will help rejuvenate you and hopefully give you the oomph you need to start motivating your team again.

How do you deal with your low moments?