How to Develop More Motivation
How to Develop More Motivation
We all need to be motivated, and we all need sufficient motivation to carry us through the day.
Some people lack motivation. You see the demotivated man, drifting into work (a bit late) and drifting around the office (with no sense of enthusiasm) and later, you see him drifting off towards home (a bit early). The poor man: he seems to have no sense of joy, no sense of enthusiasm, no sense of motivation.
Other people DO seem to have abundant motivation and enthusiasm. These are the people who you see, in the early morning, out running, in the rain, before they go to work. Some of these people are older, they are in their forties and fifties; and they still have that spark of energy that causes them to be forever moving forward, striving towards some personal goal. They seem to be working to achieve something.
The demotivated person privately bemoans the fact that he does not have the same level of motivation, and may cynically "take the mickey" out of the highly motivated man. "Look at that idiot, running in the rain. A man of his age should know better!"
Why are some people motivated and some not?
If you are not currently feeling very motivated, how could you manufacture some additional motivation?
Here are some suggestions.
To create more motivation, set a definite goal and be clear on the reasons why you want it.
Motivation comes from having two things:
- A definite goal and
- A reason why it is important to you.
The starting point of all motivation is a goal. If you are motivated, it is because you want to achieve some kind of goal. The goal could be a positive goal or a negative goal.
- A positive goal is a goal to achieve some kind of pleasurable outcome. For example, winning a race, or climbing a mountain, achieving a certain salary increase, or lifting a certain weight. That kind of thing.
- A negative goal is to rid yourself of a negative circumstance. To lose some excess fat, to get out of a bad living condition, to get away from a painful state of affairs, to regain your health after an illness, to regain your confidence after a knock back, to get back on your feet after a knock down. That kind of thing.
Goals are the starting point of motivation because motivation requires a motive. Without a clear motive, there can be no motivation.
Here are my recommendations for getting motivated:
1. Set some goals
Tonight, get a pen and paper, and spend some time writing out two kinds of goals.
- Positive goals: what do you want to achieve in the next six months?
- Negative goals: what painful situation do you want to be rid of, within the next six months?
2. Write out why the goals are important
Now you have a goals list, you need to be clear on WHY each goal is important. Your level of motivation will be in direct proportion to the level of importance that you place on the goal.
- If the goal seems to you to be not important, then you won't act.
- If the goal seems to you to be very important, then you will act.
Demotivated people either have no goals, or their goals are not linked to any sense of burning importance.
You need to make your goals REALLY MATTER to you, personally. You do that by thinking and writing out all the reasons why this goal really matters.
The more reasons, and the more important you make the reasons, the more motivated you will feel to "swing into action".
3. You need a practical way of achieving the goal
You need to write a plan. One reason why some people are demotivated is that they can see no way of achieving their goal. They have no plan of action. So they take no action.
It is vital that you take the next step: Sit down, again with pen and paper, and figure out everything that you can do to at least START MOVING TOWARDS the goal.
Notice my wording in capitals above. You do not need to know the full and exact method by which to achieve the goal. You don't need the whole answer. You don't need to know how to do it all. All you need is a plan that will tell you how to start moving in the direction of your goal.
The additional information that you need to complete the goal will come into view, as you begin to make progress forward.
You don't need to know it all, to make a good start. You can make a good start, without having all the answers.
Don't wait until you have all the answers to all your questions, before you start to make movements towards the achievement of your goals.
If you do wait for all the answers to all possible problems and questions, to be answered BEFORE you start, then you will never start.
4. Be prepared to act in the face of uncertain and incomplete knowledge.
Fourth recommendation for motivation: Be courageous enough to act in the face of uncertain and incomplete knowledge.
Summary
We all need to be motivated. We all need sufficient motivation to carry us through the day.
- Set some goals.
- Write out why the goals are important.
- You need a way of achieving the goal. You need to write a plan.
- Be courageous enough to act in the face of uncertain and incomplete knowledge.
Goal Setting, Communication and Conflict.
You cannot achieve the goal you failed to set. So the first step to achieving your goal is to set it.
Then you need to communicate the goal to others and you need to handle the inevitable conflicts and problems you will get whenever you try implement your plans. This course will help.
Definition: motivation
Motivation is the inner state that pushes you to act. It begins with a goal you care about, turns that goal into drive, steers your daily choices and keeps you moving until the aim is met or no longer matters, even when effort feels hard.
Show CG4D Definition
- Comes from inside the person, not forced from outside
- Aims at a clear goal the person values
- Supplies energy that starts and guides action
- Lasts until the goal is met or loses value
Article Summary
Motivation is not luck; it grows when you set a clear goal, link it to strong personal reasons, write a simple plan and start moving even while doubt remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is the first thing I should do to get motivated?
How do positive and negative goals help me stay motivated?
Why should I write down my reasons for each goal?
What if I cannot see the full path to my goal?
How do I create a quick action plan tonight?
Does waiting for perfect knowledge harm motivation?
How can I overcome demotivation on slow days?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 shows only 23% of workers say they feel engaged and motivated at work. A 2022 Journal of Applied Psychology study of more than 100 goal-setting trials found that people who write down a clear goal and action plan are 76% more likely to achieve it.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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