For many people motivation is like an ocean tide, rising and falling based on circumstances of the present moment. The “source” of motivation can be tricky to find since every person deals with a unique set of external realities that impacts their mood, mindset, and behaviors in different ways. As coaches and leaders who aim to build teams that compete with the right motivations in mind, solving this motivational conundrum is critical to the difficult task of team-building over the course of a long season.

Any coach can attest that the journey of a season has inevitable twists and turns that are nearly impossible to predict with specific accuracy. However, there are unmistakable landmarks that every experienced coach is aware of. One of these landmarks usually comes after passing the halfway point in the season. Almost without fail, this specific point in the season is characterized by fatigue (mental and physical), energy-depletion, and weariness. If not handled well this can also be the greatest time of internal conflict, bickering, and finger-pointing. The adrenaline from the beginning of the season has worn off, while the finish line has yet to become a reality.

As a leader, how do you deal with the middle? The middle can be a time of lost purpose and lost perspective. It can be a time (especially when accompanied by several difficult losses) when the big picture is lost and selfishness abounds. Great leaders are able to stoke the fires of motivation by rekindling the flames of passion and purpose that allow their team to grow stronger together as opposed to splintering apart (during this disorienting middle). Weakly limping to the finish line is not a viable option for coaches who are committed to leading with excellence.

Here are three core principles of motivation (backed by scientific research) that will help you stoke the sparks of motivation in your team when it feels like they have lost their passion.

DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENT 

Humans are wired for progress. Intrinsic motivation is created when we move towards an objective (or goal) and are able to see ourselves making progress. The process goes something like this: we decide on a goal, then we break that goal into smaller steps, and then we move toward our aim, accomplishing one small task at a time. Intrinsic motivation (or the process of mastery – i.e. getting better at something that matters to you) is the best long-term strategy for sustained motivation.

However, this theory on intrinsic motivation – i.e. the marginal gains you make towards an objective – is only helpful if you are aware of the progress you’re making along the way. This is the job of the leader: to demonstrate their team’s awareness of the improvement they have made over the course of a season.

Here’s the really tough part: how do you demonstrate improvement when your team is losing games? Coaches who lead with the bigger picture in mind must stay committed to the process of improvement (AND to demonstrating that improvement) regardless of the external results. Maintaining strong motivation in the midst of a losing season can be incredibly difficult. But, with some effort, a coach can come up with a number of creative ways to show their team how far they have come.