How to Stay Motivated to the Finish Line
How do you stay motivated and how do you keep your employees motivated when fatigue and frustration sets in as you near the finish line of a major project or change initiative? We all know the last mile/kilometer can be the most challenging and the longest! Here are five tips to keep you and your employees engaged until the very end!
Staying Motivated to the Very End
So close, and yet so far. That’s how I’m feeling right now working on a massive project. It’s about 86.4% finished. I can sort of, almost, kind of…if I squint…see the light at the end of the tunnel. The hardest part is over, yet the remaining 13.6% is likely going to involve a lot of stress and a lot of work. The last mile is so often the hardest; the last 10% of a project can often feel like the most daunting piece of the puzzle.
So, what can you do when your are nearing the end of a major change initiative or project at work and you feel enthusiasm starting to slide? A few thoughts:
1. Choose your self-talk wisely. Two weeks ago on this very Bat-channel l wrote about how asking the question, “Can I make it to the finish line?” creates a far more positive mental response and mindset shift than asking, “Can I keep going?”
2. Celebrate and reflect on how far you’ve come. And talk about the lessons learned along the way! You need to intentionally focus on the progress you have made, on just how far you have traveled, rather than focusing on how much there is still left to do.
3. Be realistic and don’t sugar coat things. As tempting as it may be, don’t oversell the idea that the end is but a hop, skip and a jump away. Don’t create false expectations. Talk openly about how there will likely still be some obstacles to surmount as you approach the summit – but remember, you’ve overcome all the previous obstacles so nothing can or will stop you now!
4. Remember why you started. It can be easy to lose sight of why the heck you are even doing this, so now is the time to keep your eye on the proverbial pie. Remind everyone of the ultimate goal, of why you are doing this, and of the myriad of benefits awaiting everyone.
5. Celebrate! Now you might think celebrating prematurely could be, well, premature. And of course you’re going to celebrate wildly once you’ve crossed the finish line, but this is also the perfect time to throw a much-needed “Light at the End of the Tunnel Bash”, a “We Are So Darned Close We Can Smell It Party” or a “If I Squint I Can Almost See the Summit Gala” as a way to celebrate your progress, re-energize the troops and refocus on the ultimate goal.
Michael Kerr. Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame business speaker and the author of 8 books, including: The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses are Laughing All the Way to the Bank, Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire, and The Jerk-Free Workplace.
