As the third in our series on Emotional Intelligence, this article looks at Motivation and I’ve chosen to focus in particular on purpose and energy levels (please visit our blog for part 1 on Self Awareness and part 2 on Self Regulation).
Motivation: The Inner Fire That Great Leaders Share
I’m privileged in my work, that I get to work with some brilliant leaders across different industries with different gifts, skills and talents. And whilst I don’t subscribe to the “here’s 10 qualities every leader must have” approach, I do see some common skills in good leaders and high emotional intelligence is one of them.
Emotionally intelligent leaders are motivated by a deep, consistent drive to do meaningful work and help others do the same. There’s purpose and energy in what they do.
When leaders are intrinsically motivated, their teams can feel it. It’s visible in how they show up, how they respond to setbacks, and how they keep the team focused on what really matters.
Purpose-Driven Leaders Inspire More Than Performance Metrics
Leaders with high emotional intelligence, are motivated by more than outcomes. They’re grounded in purpose. They understand why they lead, what legacy they want to leave, and they make sure their teams understand it too.
When leaders speak openly about their purpose, what matters to them, what they’re working toward, and why, it creates clarity and meaning. People feel part of something that matters, and as human beings that’s important to us. That’s where real commitment starts…not with KPIs, but with connection.
This doesn’t mean leaders need to have all the answers, it simply means they’re willing to share what drives them and help others connect their own role to the bigger picture.
Leaders always have lots on, and it can be hard to carve out time to do things which don’t demonstrate instant value, but here’s something which can help create instant connection and inspire others, which in turn creates engagement. At your next team meeting, take a few minutes to share what motivates you right now. What is it that really sparks the flame inside. Invite others in the team to do the same. It’s amazing how quickly that engagement and excitement builds.
Motivation Sets the Emotional Tone
Leadership is an emotional job. Whether you realise it or not, your energy sets the tone for others. When you’re motivated by something bigger than yourself, whether it’s the team’s purpose, values, or the desire to build something wonderful, people pick up on it.
They mirror it.
In contrast, when leaders go through the motions or lead from a place of stress or detachment, that filters across to the team too. The emotionally intelligent leader knows this and is intentional about showing up with energy, clarity, and commitment even when things are difficult.
That doesn’t mean pretending to be positive when things are tough…authenticity is critical, but it does mean being aware of your own energy levels and the impact they are having on others. No-one wants or expects you to bounce around the workplace like some over-excited Tigger all the time…the energy I’m referring to is quiet energy. A steady grounded presence, a clear and calm conviction, which comes from knowing your purpose, understanding your team and choosing how you respond in situations (rather than reacting out of habit).
Motivation Fuels Leadership Resilience
Let’s be honest, Leadership will test your energy. You’ll face setbacks, resistance, ambiguity, and on some days, sheer exhaustion.
What keeps emotionally intelligent leaders going isn’t just grit. It’s purpose-fuelled motivation. When you’re anchored in something meaningful, you can withstand more and recover faster. You model resilience, not just talk about it.
This kind of motivation doesn’t run on adrenaline; it runs on alignment. When your daily actions match your values and goals, you don’t have to force energy. It builds naturally.
And when motivation dips (as it inevitably will), emotionally intelligent leaders notice it, reflect, and reset, rather than pushing through on empty.
Self Assessment Questions
It can be helpful to ask yourself regularly:
What’s energising me right now?
What’s draining me?
What might need to shift?
Get familiar with your own ebb and flow and notice what you need in those moments.
Sustainable Leadership
Motivation is more than personal drive, it’s leadership fuel. It powers your presence, your purpose, and your perseverance. And when you lead from that place, you don’t just perform, you inspire.
The “energy management over time management” model is a leadership and performance idea popularised by Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr in their book The Power of Full Engagement. The core premise is simple but powerful:
It’s not the number of hours you work that determines your effectiveness, it’s how well you manage your energy.
Core Principles of Energy Management
Instead of focusing only on scheduling and prioritising tasks (time management), this model encourages leaders to think about how they maintain and renew their energy across four key domains:
- Physical Energy
- The Fuel: Sleep, nutrition, exercise, rest
- The Warning signs: Fatigue, lack of stamina, irritability
- Strategies: Take movement breaks, have good sleep habits, hydrate throughout the day.
- Emotional Energy
- The Fuel: Positive emotions like joy, appreciation, connection
- The Warning signs: Mood swings, being reactive, emotional withdrawal
- Strategies: Daily gratitude practices, awareness of your emotional state, supportive relationships
- Mental Energy
- The Fuel: Focus, clarity, curiosity
- The Warning signs: Being distracted, scattered thinking, decision fatigue
- Strategies: Block out time for deep work, practice mindfulness, prioritisation – putting first things first.
- Spiritual Energy (Purpose)
- The Fuel: Connection to values, meaning, purpose
- The Warning signs: Becoming cynical, loss of drive, disengagement
- Strategies: Reflect on your purpose, check that you are aligning with your values, being of service to others
Leaders are constantly pulled in multiple directions. Traditional time management might help you tick things off a to-do list, but it won’t help if you’re too tired, emotionally flat, or disconnected from your purpose.
Practical Tips
How can you manage your energy with intention?
- Take time to renew your energy when it’s depleted, don’t wait for burnout. Build short daily practices that renew you — a 5-minute break, a walk, a gratitude note.
- Track your energy like you would track time. Notice patterns. When do you feel most alive, focused, or drained?
- Align your work with what energises you and avoid unnecessary drains. Protect high-energy hours for deep or strategic work.
Energy Management Over Time Management
Motivated leaders know it’s not just about how many hours you work — it’s about how you manage your energy. High performers don’t just schedule their time, they protect and renew their energy across those four key dimensions:
Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual (purpose-driven).
Paying attention to what fuels you and what drains you, means you can lead with more clarity, resilience, and presence, and role model a more sustainable way of working for your team.
