10 Ways To Get Motivated Now
Motivation is an interesting thing. It is an emotional connection stimulated by a purpose. People debate whether motivation is intrinsic or extrinsic. Are you able to get motivated?
You might get many suggestions about what to do to get more motivated. If you don’t connect with any of those suggestions it isn’t going to make any difference.
Different Ways
I often suggest when talking with groups about workplace motivation that you can be motivated by fear or inspiration, or by punishment or reward. It seems there is a negative side and a positive side.
Motivation then, driven by emotions, can be very powerful. Willpower, a subject I love also has a connection here. In the workplace, our best motivation comes from having a purpose. Purpose can break down walls, eliminate stereotypes, and bring harmony to the team.
Do you want to get motivated or help to motivate others? Here are ten ways to jump-start your workplace motivation.
Positive:
- Be professional. Set a standard, be the expert, role model what you and others in your profession or trade would want to be recognized as, or for.
- Legacy. Good for any team, but especially good for individuals in the twilight of their career. What mark, standard, or lasting impression do you want to leave behind.
- Dream big. Every day someone goes bigger, faster, or better. You can be the best in your town, your state, your region, or the world. It isn’t about competing, it’s just about bigger and better. Goals are achieved, history will be made.
- Humanity. You do it to help others. You choose to be kind, generous, and sharing. It is a chance to become part of something, not for the pay, not to compete, but to just do good for humankind or a specific cause.
- Connection. We work best together. We are successful because of each other. People want to come here, be here, and do good work. It only happens because we do it together. Everyone is leader and follower.
Negative:
- Competition. I will not, or we will not be defeated. You can compete against other people, other businesses or even race against time. There are winners and losers, you’re going to win.
- Embarrassment. We have to do this, we must do this or we’ll be shunned from the tribe. Most of all we will be letting others who count on us down. We don’t want to be losers or outcasts.
- Revenge. There has been some wrongdoing and you’re going to change that. You will work harder and smarter than before. While the enemy sleeps, you’ll be stealing their food.
- Inferior. Often connected to image, brand, or legacy, your work, product, or service is not good enough. You will not stop until it is perfect. The perfectionist in you just won’t allow that.
- Fear. The boss says I must, and I don’t want to lose my job. I need this job and no matter what it is or how much I don’t like it, I do it because I have to do it. Hey, I am getting a paycheck.
Get Motivated
Perhaps the greatest thing about motivation is that it all works. Some might take you to the dark side, some is short-lived, but all of them may get the job done. Should you motivate from the positive or the negative? The best answer may be, it depends.
Motivation can be situational. For the strategy session it may be positive, when goals are slipping it may be more negative. All of it connects back to emotions and purpose. I always suggest positive over the negative and in some cases, the lines between the two may get blurry.
Anyone who doesn’t understand or care about the future outcome will probably lack motivation.
Understand the purpose, believe in it, and you’ll be pulled, no reason to push.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
