Motivating others is hard. Trying to inspire others to focus and get the most out of themselves in pressure situations is particularly difficult. As someone who has held leadership roles in different areas over the years, the notion of motivating others has been a constant, almost daily struggle.

Some people just don’t have it in their blood to get motivated, and those who do might not have it in them to stay motivated. Some people aren’t wired in a way that allows them to dig within themselves to get that extra effort out.

Some just don’t care, and I think those are the ones that are the most frustrating to deal with as a leader. You can say anything you want to them, you can sit down with them one-on-one, you can yell at them, reason with them, you name it. The results won’t change. That person will still give the minimal amount of effort no matter what you do.

The key to motivating an entire group, however, does not lie in the probable five percent who fall into that category of “not caring.”

What I’ve learned and tried hard to engrain in my head is that you can’t focus your attention on those that cause problems. It becomes tiring and draining, often leaving you feeling defeated or exhausted.

The key here is working with the roughly 95 percent that do care. They’re the ones who will listen, hear what you have to say, listen to the advice you give and implement it. They are the ones who give respect where it’s due and will work every day to get better. Those are the ones who are the bread and butter to your success.

Another important aspect is to not lose composure, no matter how difficult things may be getting in different capacities.

As a leader, many people look up to you and come to you for guidance and advice, and if they see that you can’t control your emotions, that starts to trickle down into your co-workers or teammates. That can lead to a lack of motivation as well, because if the leader can’t promote emotional stability and composure under duress, then what are the other people pushing themselves for? Why would they put everything on the line for someone who they can’t trust to lead the way through adversity?

The over all attitude of a team, employees or a group is a direct reflection of the leadership. If you can lead one of these groups, you will hold a great responsibility.

Everyone will look to you when things go poorly, go well or are stagnant.

No matter what, a leader needs to inspire and motivate others by maintaining their emotions and focusing on the roughly 95 percent of individuals who you know are working towards the collective goal and have the greater good in mind.

If you’re a leader or hope to be a leader of a group, team or organization going forward, make sure you look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re up for the task. Can you control your emotions through the tough times? Can you find creative ways to motivate your teammates? Can you be a leader, not just a boss?

Leading is difficult, but quite possibly be one of the most rewarding life skills you can have as an individual.