As project manager, you may need a kick in the proverbial butt on occasion to keep your own level of motivation high. It's easy to lose your drive and desire if all around you team motivation is crumbling. In that case, it's time to take one step back before taking three steps forward. Sometimes the best thing you can do as leader is take a day away from the project, physically and, more importantly, mentally. Remind yourself of your personal goal in this project. Look at your own vested interest in the project, and look at your goals and interests away from the project.

As you proceed through your career and work on various projects, you will be able to fairly assess what does and does not motivate you best. For some people, competition provides the shot in the arm; perhaps knowing that another team is developing their software at a faster rate. For someone else it might be a setback. While some people see a setback as a time to throw in the towel, others see it as the impetus to buckle down and work harder. When you feel motivated to get out there and double your effort, know what motivates you and use that to get yourself going.

One project manager, who was feeling burned out after working ten-hour days to get the project finished, said he simply went home one night and watched his two young children sleep for about two hours. He reminded himself that when the project was over, he would be getting an extra two weeks off to take them to Disney World. The time to spend with his family was his motivation to get the project finished on time, and his personal motivation is what kept him on track.