The 10 Vulnerabilities of Discouragement
Turning an ember into a flame takes skills. But any fool can throw water on enthusiasm.
Show up to fuel energy and build morale.
Everyone gets discouraged. That’s why successful leaders make it a daily practice to energize others.
Drooping shoulders are leadership’s responsibility.
10 vulnerabilities of discouragement:
#1. Fatigue is a megaphone for your inner critic. When your inner critic is loud, your outer critic finds courage.
#2. Discouraged teams think like losers. The world shrinks when you feel beat down.
#3. Stress, fatigue, and discouragement cause people to spiral inward. You can’t serve others when all you think about is yourself.
#4. When you’re tired and stressed, you revert to patterns that worked in the past, but hobble you today.
#5. A tired brain is befuddled like a two year old that’s up past his bedtime. You aren’t thinking right if you’re living on caffeine.
#6. Prolonged discouragement turns to bitterness.
#7. Bad is glaringly obvious but good is a hazy memory when you’re exhausted.
#8. Words like ‘always’ are common when you’re stressed.
#9. The faults of others are big but your faults are small when your hands hang down.
#10. Self-pity and blame rule the day when your fire goes out.
How to build morale:
- Turn toward people. All you think about is getting something done when you’re stressed out. You lose sight of people and relationships.
- See the good side of frustration. A frustrated team member cares. “Thanks for caring.”
- Notice something good. Discouragement justifies itself by focusing on bad. The people you hired aren’t complete losers, are they?
- Breathe.
- Hold your shoulders back and your head up.
- Smile.
- Stop being a control freak. It’s exhausting.
Tip: Don’t judge others by your ability to endure discouragement.
What are the indications that people feel discouraged?
How might leaders build fires rather than quench embers?
Yet another excellent article, Dan, I love your style!
Thank you Ann.
Great post Dan. When leaders bring their best self to work, people follow the example.
Thanks Duane. You remind me of “Model the Way.” Have a great week.
Thanks, Dan, for an excellent diagnosis of fatigue. We lose a sense of humor when we are tired, worn out and fatigued. I’ve told others that everything looks worse when it is cold, dark & tired.
Brilliant. I hadn’t thought about humor. But it’s true. Perhaps the other side of this is we’re grumpy. 🙂
laughter and fun are healthy and energizing. Cheers
Thank you Dan. I needed this today big time.
Sent from my iPhone
>
Best wishes Vincent! Thanks for stopping in.
Dan, you’re like our pastor (in more ways than one!) Every time I’m struggling with something and tell him in confession, he says, “That just happens to be the topic of my homily this weekend.” You both provide good advice, good insight and just what I need to hear when life brings challenges. Thank you!
Wow! Thanks so much! I think we all share some common challenges. Cheers. 🙂