Journey To Leadership

14 Ways Leaders Fight Boredom

by journeytoleadershipblog

Sometimes, our job can become slow and cumbersome.

Other times, we can either:

  • Forget who we are and what we want.
  • Evolve and realize that we no longer belong.
  • get stuck in a dead end job with zero opportunities.
  • Be unable to project ourselves in the future.

Boredom in the workplace happens to millennials starting out on their career as much as accomplished men or women at the top of their career.

Wondering how to overcome boredom in the workplace?

14 Ways Leaders Fight Boredom #leaders #leadership #motivation #boredom #performance #success

 

The benefits of boredom

Great leaders have found their career of choice and are most likely thriving in their field.

However, when leaders are bored, they lose energy, become discouraged and frustrated with everyone and everything.

There are positives aspects of being bored at work. Boredom:

  • Gives leaders the “opportunity” to question themselves, gain more self awareness, rewire their brain and find their new passion.
  • Helps leaders take their career to the next level.
  • Warns leaders that they need a break and that they might be burning out.
  • Says that leaders have reached or are not working on their respective goals.
  • Means that you are not self aware enough and that you need to spend more time with yourself.
Boredom is the fear of self. - Marie Josephine De Suin Click To Tweet

How to overcome boredom in the workplace?

 

1. Improve your mindset

There is always room for self improvement. To get your motivation back:

  • Review your Life Plan and your past accomplishments.
  • Start your day with motivational quotes.
  • Listen to positive podcasts.
  • Read self-help books and blogs.
  • Attend leadership development programs.
  • Take classes and trainings.
  • Optimize your current situation.

2. Analyze your situation

Analyze your results, objectives, processes and team performance.

Then, think of new success strategy, find out what can be optimized and how you can take more risks.

For example, remove the flow of unnecessary meetings from your schedule.

3. Take a break from your job

Boredom can just be a phase.

To get over that phase, simply go on a vacation.

When you will get back to work, your energy and your focus will automatically be renewed

4. Try something new

Leaders are, more often than not, excited for a new idea, by the idea of novelty and for the opportunity to learn. When bored, it is imperative for you to:

  • Do things that you have always wanted to do.
  • Step out of your comfort zone.
  • Face your fears.
Boredom flourishes too, when you feel safe. It's a symptom of security. - Eugene Ionesco Click To Tweet

5. Find or renew your passions

Passion is waking up energized and motivated to do the things you love. It means being able to persist through adversity.

If there are no more logical reasons for keeping your leadership position, ask yourself the 25 questions to find your passion back, to remind yourself what this job meant to you and want it did for you when you started.

6. Live in the present

Being present is a state of mind where you are neither focus on the future or the past, where your emotions don’t dictate your actions.

To live in the present:

  • Take everything day by day.
  • Do your best.
  • Make peace with your past.

7. Learn to be grateful

When you are grateful, you realize that each day you are closer to your goals.

That doesn’t mean that you are complacent or satisfied with the way things are.

Learning to be grateful means that you value what you have and are willing to go beyond your comfort zone.

8. Organize your life

When you are bored and have too much time on your hands, it is best to get organized, clean up your desk, clear up the junk in your emails, and freshen up your environment.

9. Do something for someone else

There is nothing more gratifying than helping someone else.

Go around your team members and study whether or not they feel the same way, need a challenged, need help, attention or encouragement.

10. Find places outside of work to employ your skills

A boring job is much better than a toxic or dramatic workplace.

So, keep your day job, take time out to define your passions, talents and skills.

Then, employ them in another environment after work until you can turn your hobby into your new day job.

11. Take the initiative

To get rid of being bored, create more work for yourself.

You can use your initiative as leverage during pay raise negotiations.

12. Find new incentives to work

Sometimes, when you lose motivation, you have to look for new ways to wake up in the morning and to go to work.

13. Make your work day more fun

Fun is not only for kids.

But, instead of lashing out and taking out your frustrations on your team, celebrate your success, turn your day and activities into fun.

14. Express yourself

You'll find boredom where there is the absence of a good idea. - Earl Nightingale Click To Tweet

Boredom has a direct impact on your creativity. 

If you are bored, let your imagination flow, look for different ways to express yourself and to implement your ideas.

Last Words Of Advice!

Leaders and followers get bored from time to time.

Because we are all human and have all experienced boredom, you will have a better understanding on why some team members are underperforming.

That doesn’t mean that you have to cut your team some slack or breathe down their necks.

It means that you know how to re-energize them, to motivate them and optimize their performance.

 

Hope that I’ve helped you get it together on your way to leadership!

Don’t forget to like, share and leave a comment below.

 

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