Management Work through the boredom

A. The quick answer is you can't. Being motivated is a temporary feeling, if not a myth altogether.  

The difference between those people who are successful in whatever they do and those who are not has nothing to with motivation. It has everything to do with being able to handle the boredom of executing the right processes day in and day out that yield the desired results. That's it.  As managers and coaches, this is the way we need to evaluate an individual's work ethic. It's not about working at a frenetic pace at all hours or coming in the office on weekends all time (although I grant certain circumstances may dictate that from time to time). It's all about having a daily plan and executing.

Truly successful people feel the same lack of motivation that everyone else feels. They don't have some magic elixir that makes them feel ready and inspired every day. The difference is that the people who stick with their processes won't let their emotions determine their actions. Top performers still find a way to show up, work through the boredom, and embrace the daily practice required to achieve their objectives. It's this ability to do the work when it's not easy that separates the top performers from everyone else.

It's your responsibility as the manager or coach to build and lead a team that has these traits. Traditional interviewing techniques and a review of work history many times will not provide you with the necessary information to help determine if an individual has this ability. That is why, in addition to my traditional interviewing process, I also have each prospective employee take a comprehensive personality assessment to help determine if his or her personality will likely lead to success in a specific role in my organization.

Mike Strange is vice president of Emerge Sales. Reach him at mike.strange@emergesales.com.