Turnarounds and other ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ can feel like that. Greek mythology considered this scenario a punishment: Sisyphos was condemned to maximum effort and daily setbacks.
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Interestingly, Indian mythology also had a man rolling a rock uphill every day. But amazingly, this guy ๐ฒ๐ป๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ the procedure. ย So, how to become a Naranath Bhranthan rather than a Sisyphos?
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Our โrewardโ neurotransmitter dopamine helps with this; it stays elevated as successes becomes rare, keeping our spirits up. You can support this mechanism by noticing and celebrating not only the big, but also the ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐.
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To naturally choose the harder task? Because you enjoy the challenge, irrespective of outcome? This is probably a good mode during turnaround (if less so during business-as-usual). ย
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Fascinating new experiments show that this can be achieved by ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด people for ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ task (rather than rewarding them for results only). What leadership skills do you need for this?
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One, being able to ๐ท๐๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ required; you must have some understanding of the actual work that is necessary. Two, rewarding people ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐; you must have touchpoints throughout, not only to see the results.
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And remember: โMoney โฆ is very often the most expensive way to motivate peopleโ (Dan Ariely). Many people will appreciate other rewards just as much, such as genuine interest in their work and friendly support.