In today's organizations employees were considered tools to produce goods, sales and services. Some employer set target for their employee as goal setting is extremely important to motivation and success for a big company. Some company gives commision to their employee if they pass the target of the sales as one of the motivation.
Employer started to realizing that money are not solely the only way to motivated their staff by giving nice wages. They started to look into working enviroment as to make them enjoy their works, job security, job promotions, yearly vacation, year end dinner and apprisation rewards and family outing. Some company even give family menbers medical care benifits. With this benifit the motivation of the employee would be very high.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
motivation in working place
A good employer should understand the essential that you empathize with your employees. Know about their family and what they do after working hours and what interests is. This is not meant to be interfere into an employee's personal life, but knowing an employee can help you to resolve what motivates that employee. Different people are motivated by dissimilar things. What does the employee want? What do they want from this job, from their life, and for their future? Reaching goals can be difficult. Helping someone to reach a goal at work is impossible if you do not know what that goal is.
Take a few minutes out of your day to just talk with your employees. Give them an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns or simply ask how their week went. This will demonstrate how much you care about his or her happiness within the company.
Most employees start out in a job on the bottom with hopes of advancement.
Understand the employees' feelings about their career. Most employees start out in a job on the bottom with hopes of advancement. One way to increase employee drive is to discuss the likelihood of advancement or lateral movement within the company structure. It might be a different position, or a promotion, in a sister company. Your employees should know that you care about the things that they care about. Let them know that you are there to help them achieve their goals and this will motivated the staff to do better in their job and also to achieve the goal you want.
Take a few minutes out of your day to just talk with your employees. Give them an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns or simply ask how their week went. This will demonstrate how much you care about his or her happiness within the company.
Most employees start out in a job on the bottom with hopes of advancement.
Understand the employees' feelings about their career. Most employees start out in a job on the bottom with hopes of advancement. One way to increase employee drive is to discuss the likelihood of advancement or lateral movement within the company structure. It might be a different position, or a promotion, in a sister company. Your employees should know that you care about the things that they care about. Let them know that you are there to help them achieve their goals and this will motivated the staff to do better in their job and also to achieve the goal you want.
Friday, October 06, 2006
motivation theorists
There are several motivational theories that trace their roots to the information processing approach to learning. These approaches focus on the categories and labels people use help to identify thoughts, emotions, dispositions, and behaviors.
he first is cognitive dissonance theory which is in some respects similar to disequilibrium in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This theory was developed by Leon Festinger (1957) and states that when there is a discrepancy between two beliefs, two actions, or between a belief and an action, we will act to resolve conflict and discrepancies. The implication is that if we can create the appropriate amount of disequilibrium, this will in turn lead to the individual changing his or her behavior which in turn will lead to a change in thought patterns which in turn leads to more change in behavior.
Most motivation theorists assume that motivation is involved in the performance of all learned responses; that is, a learned behavior will not occur unless it is energized. The major question among psychologists, in general, is whether motivation is a primary or secondary influence on behavior. That is, are changes in behavior better explained by principles of environmental/ecological influences, perception, memory, cognitive development, emotion, explanatory style, or personality or are concepts unique to motivation more pertinent.
he first is cognitive dissonance theory which is in some respects similar to disequilibrium in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. This theory was developed by Leon Festinger (1957) and states that when there is a discrepancy between two beliefs, two actions, or between a belief and an action, we will act to resolve conflict and discrepancies. The implication is that if we can create the appropriate amount of disequilibrium, this will in turn lead to the individual changing his or her behavior which in turn will lead to a change in thought patterns which in turn leads to more change in behavior.
Most motivation theorists assume that motivation is involved in the performance of all learned responses; that is, a learned behavior will not occur unless it is energized. The major question among psychologists, in general, is whether motivation is a primary or secondary influence on behavior. That is, are changes in behavior better explained by principles of environmental/ecological influences, perception, memory, cognitive development, emotion, explanatory style, or personality or are concepts unique to motivation more pertinent.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
motivation within ourselves
Motivation itself is a fantastic concept, you feel great and you are moved to take action because of this feeling. So, the first thing we need to do to create motivation within ourselves is to first decide what we actually want!
With goals I want to achieve in a short period of time, I make a dream diary.
Most people remain unmotivated because they are not pursuing a big enough dream, or no dream at all. If you have a big and compelling enough dream, the motivation will come naturally. Write your goals on a pieces of paper and place them where you will see them daily. You need to remind yourself often of the dreams you have for yourself. Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t. Dream can motivated you to achived your goals. If you dream to be a boss you must motivated yourself that one day I will be a boss of myself. Dont let depression kill your motivation.
Depression is a major motivation killer. People who are depressed will experience a significant decrease in motivation. In order to combat this it may be necessary for the person to use medication therapy to treat the depression. Depression may cause the person to experience a lack of desire to even get out of bed. It may be difficult for the person to leave the house or even to complete daily tasks. A motivation strategy to combat this is for the patient to first get a physical to make sure that the depression is not a symptom of an underlying, serious health condition, and then seek psychological counseling and possible medication therapy. Motivation success is possible if proper steps are taken to seek treatment.
With goals I want to achieve in a short period of time, I make a dream diary.
Most people remain unmotivated because they are not pursuing a big enough dream, or no dream at all. If you have a big and compelling enough dream, the motivation will come naturally. Write your goals on a pieces of paper and place them where you will see them daily. You need to remind yourself often of the dreams you have for yourself. Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t. Dream can motivated you to achived your goals. If you dream to be a boss you must motivated yourself that one day I will be a boss of myself. Dont let depression kill your motivation.
Depression is a major motivation killer. People who are depressed will experience a significant decrease in motivation. In order to combat this it may be necessary for the person to use medication therapy to treat the depression. Depression may cause the person to experience a lack of desire to even get out of bed. It may be difficult for the person to leave the house or even to complete daily tasks. A motivation strategy to combat this is for the patient to first get a physical to make sure that the depression is not a symptom of an underlying, serious health condition, and then seek psychological counseling and possible medication therapy. Motivation success is possible if proper steps are taken to seek treatment.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Motivation the key succeed
Motivation is the key in accomplishing all your goals. Motivation is the common
factor among those who are high achievers. Highly motivated can lead you towards a successful and exciting life.
The individual who is extremely motivated and successful has been motivated by a
vision. People who develop a vision control their own life and destiny.The quest for freedom is the basis for motivation. Total freedom is not necessarily desirable or possible, but the pursuit of that ideal is what motivates us to succeed.
Develop a major goal, but take a specified path to get there. You'll have man smaller goals to reach before you get to the final result.
The power of your dreams is the primary factor in becoming motivated If you want to succeed in reaching your goals, you must be willing to take a risk and lose.
True motivation is not only a learned skill; it is developed due to a need or desire to make our dreams a reality.
If you want to find inner motivation, you must identify your goals and set out on an unwavering path to achieve them.
factor among those who are high achievers. Highly motivated can lead you towards a successful and exciting life.
The individual who is extremely motivated and successful has been motivated by a
vision. People who develop a vision control their own life and destiny.The quest for freedom is the basis for motivation. Total freedom is not necessarily desirable or possible, but the pursuit of that ideal is what motivates us to succeed.
Develop a major goal, but take a specified path to get there. You'll have man smaller goals to reach before you get to the final result.
The power of your dreams is the primary factor in becoming motivated If you want to succeed in reaching your goals, you must be willing to take a risk and lose.
True motivation is not only a learned skill; it is developed due to a need or desire to make our dreams a reality.
If you want to find inner motivation, you must identify your goals and set out on an unwavering path to achieve them.
Monday, September 11, 2006
motivation : How Does Motivation Activate, Direct, and Sustain Action?
The chapter begins with a general overview of motivation and describes the four essential qualities of motivational states: They energize and direct behaviors, help the organism to persist toward a goal, and exist in varying strengths. Most motivational theories view behaviors as a way of maintaining equilibrium, and several aspects of this process (homeostasis, negative feedback model, set point) are explored. Pay special attention to the difference in emphasis between the more biologically based idea of instincts versus the psychologically based idea of needs. Both concepts involve the initiation of behavior; however, instincts focus more on unlearned, automatic actions, whereas needs allow more leeway for environmental influence. Hedonism, the tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain, is a general motivational principle that extends back at least to the time of the ancient Greeks. The idea was integrated into Freudian motivational theory with the concept of the pleasure principle. Finally, the authors present several examples of how hedonism is adaptive in that it promotes survival and reproduction.
How Do Cognitive, Social, and Cultural Factors Influence Motivation?
The next section of the chapter moves further away from the idea of motivation as simple biological instincts and considers additional environmental influences that activate and sustain behavior. We are motivated by extrinsic factors such as incentives and rewards. However, we also are motivated by extrinsic factors such as incentives and rewards. However, we also are motivated by intrinsic factors such as novelty, play, and creativity. A surprising research finding in this area is Mark Lepper's contention that rewards can actually undermine intrinsically motivated behavior. Psychological scientists continue to investigate the ramifications of this for education, business, and child-rearing. Individuals are also motivated to attain personal goals, and the self-regulation of behavior is the process by which people initiate, adjust, or stop actions in this pursuit. Goals that are challenging, difficult, and specific seem to be the most productive. They also give rise to feelings of self-efficacy or the expectancy that your efforts will lead to success. Self-awareness of one's personal standards also serves to regulate behavior. The process of deindividuation occurs when self-awareness is low, and it can result in some surprising disinhibited behavior (e.g., spring break, athletic events). Finally, the self-regulatory process of delay of gratification is investigated. The understanding of this crucial, adaptive function has increased with recent advances in behavioral neuroscience.
© 2003 - 2006 W.W. Norton & Company
How Do Cognitive, Social, and Cultural Factors Influence Motivation?
The next section of the chapter moves further away from the idea of motivation as simple biological instincts and considers additional environmental influences that activate and sustain behavior. We are motivated by extrinsic factors such as incentives and rewards. However, we also are motivated by extrinsic factors such as incentives and rewards. However, we also are motivated by intrinsic factors such as novelty, play, and creativity. A surprising research finding in this area is Mark Lepper's contention that rewards can actually undermine intrinsically motivated behavior. Psychological scientists continue to investigate the ramifications of this for education, business, and child-rearing. Individuals are also motivated to attain personal goals, and the self-regulation of behavior is the process by which people initiate, adjust, or stop actions in this pursuit. Goals that are challenging, difficult, and specific seem to be the most productive. They also give rise to feelings of self-efficacy or the expectancy that your efforts will lead to success. Self-awareness of one's personal standards also serves to regulate behavior. The process of deindividuation occurs when self-awareness is low, and it can result in some surprising disinhibited behavior (e.g., spring break, athletic events). Finally, the self-regulatory process of delay of gratification is investigated. The understanding of this crucial, adaptive function has increased with recent advances in behavioral neuroscience.
© 2003 - 2006 W.W. Norton & Company
motivation :Building Motivation
Project Based Learning allows teachers to create tasks whose complexity and openness mimic problems in the real world. Students can see the interdisciplinary nature of these tasks, and see that each task may have more than one solution. Students who have the freedom to choose different strategies and approaches may become more engaged in the learning process, and these students will be more likely to approach other problems with an open mind.
In addition, students who are involved in creating the project assignment or the project checklist gain valuable experience in setting their own goals and standards of excellence. This gives students a sense of ownership and control over their own learning. Learners have the added opportunity to identify related sub-topics and explore them in a project based scenario. Teaching with the project based method enables students to work cooperatively with peers and mentors in a student-centered environment where learners are encouraged to explore various topics of interest.
Projects that have depth, duration, and complexity will challenge students and motivate them towards construction of knowledge. They will acquire problem-solving, communication, collaboration, planning, and self- evaluation skills. After completing a project, ask students to create a self-evaluation of the project. This enables the students to focus on their learning process and allows them to see their progress. Self-evaluation gives students a sense of accomplishment and further instills responsibility for learning.
Learners who can see the connection between a project based task and the real world will be more motivated to understand and solve the problem at hand. Students enjoy learning when learning makes sense. Project Based Learning lends itself to many disciplines. It provides learners the opportunity to have a voice in how and what they learn, while building intrinsic motivation towards problem-solving.
Copyright. © 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 ALTEC, the University of Kansas.
In addition, students who are involved in creating the project assignment or the project checklist gain valuable experience in setting their own goals and standards of excellence. This gives students a sense of ownership and control over their own learning. Learners have the added opportunity to identify related sub-topics and explore them in a project based scenario. Teaching with the project based method enables students to work cooperatively with peers and mentors in a student-centered environment where learners are encouraged to explore various topics of interest.
Projects that have depth, duration, and complexity will challenge students and motivate them towards construction of knowledge. They will acquire problem-solving, communication, collaboration, planning, and self- evaluation skills. After completing a project, ask students to create a self-evaluation of the project. This enables the students to focus on their learning process and allows them to see their progress. Self-evaluation gives students a sense of accomplishment and further instills responsibility for learning.
Learners who can see the connection between a project based task and the real world will be more motivated to understand and solve the problem at hand. Students enjoy learning when learning makes sense. Project Based Learning lends itself to many disciplines. It provides learners the opportunity to have a voice in how and what they learn, while building intrinsic motivation towards problem-solving.
Copyright. © 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 ALTEC, the University of Kansas.
Monday, September 04, 2006
motivation : How to Find Motivation for Oneself?
What are the prerequisites of one’s success in this or that sphere? Indeed, they are many, like personal qualities, strong will, an element of luck etc. However, among these things motivation is probably the most important. Why? Because it is due to motivation a person moves ahead in the direction of achieving certain goal. If you are motivated towards accomplishments, necessary qualities like diligence, persistence, patience, etc. will be revealed and will work.
Motivation can be compared to an engine, which makes a machine work and function. Similarly to engine, motivation stimulates a person develop and perform what should be performed. If a child has motivation, he or she will certainly not only go to school, which is obligatory, but will get nice grades and will become brilliant students. We all do things that are sometimes unpleasant for us. We do them because of responsibility or duties whatever. Still, if we are truly motivated, the efficiency of our activity increases several times. The main problem is to find motivation if you absolutely do not feel like doing something. In such moments we get too lazy, too indecisive, and too weak. We prefer to find numerous reasons why we just can not do this or that forgetting that as the saying goes, “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” So, one of the first terms is decision.
You have to take a decision what you will be doing and, subsequently, take personal responsibility to implement that decision. The most important thing is to be responsible and keep to your word, in your own eyes. If you’ve already taken a decision, think of all possible options how to put your choice into life, think of the instruments and methods. Motivation is strongly connected to interest. As long as you have interest, you have a desire to develop yourself in this or that sphere.
Keep that interest, do not let it evaporate. Or if you feel that some activity does not bring you enjoyment any more, find another interest, but do not live without any interest. That is a direct way to depression, which causes so many problems of mental and physical character. To acquire some interests you should communicate with many people, because through communication you learn about people’s hobbies, favorite activities and life interests. You are certain to find and discover something for you.
Motivate yourself if you want to perform best, because it is inner energy, a great desire, an incentive coming from within that will serve preconditions to your success. And never stop searching for interests, because our life comprises a really great deal of them, which will make your personal living bright and vivid.
by Daniel Hunt
Motivation can be compared to an engine, which makes a machine work and function. Similarly to engine, motivation stimulates a person develop and perform what should be performed. If a child has motivation, he or she will certainly not only go to school, which is obligatory, but will get nice grades and will become brilliant students. We all do things that are sometimes unpleasant for us. We do them because of responsibility or duties whatever. Still, if we are truly motivated, the efficiency of our activity increases several times. The main problem is to find motivation if you absolutely do not feel like doing something. In such moments we get too lazy, too indecisive, and too weak. We prefer to find numerous reasons why we just can not do this or that forgetting that as the saying goes, “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” So, one of the first terms is decision.
You have to take a decision what you will be doing and, subsequently, take personal responsibility to implement that decision. The most important thing is to be responsible and keep to your word, in your own eyes. If you’ve already taken a decision, think of all possible options how to put your choice into life, think of the instruments and methods. Motivation is strongly connected to interest. As long as you have interest, you have a desire to develop yourself in this or that sphere.
Keep that interest, do not let it evaporate. Or if you feel that some activity does not bring you enjoyment any more, find another interest, but do not live without any interest. That is a direct way to depression, which causes so many problems of mental and physical character. To acquire some interests you should communicate with many people, because through communication you learn about people’s hobbies, favorite activities and life interests. You are certain to find and discover something for you.
Motivate yourself if you want to perform best, because it is inner energy, a great desire, an incentive coming from within that will serve preconditions to your success. And never stop searching for interests, because our life comprises a really great deal of them, which will make your personal living bright and vivid.
by Daniel Hunt
motivation : When Motivation Counts
Have you stopped to think just how short life really is? Do you realize that every day you spend worrying or feeling bad about yourself is one more day that you are putting off being happy? If you are ever to get the most out of life, now is the time to start. Is there a dream, purpose, or accomplishment you have desired for a long time? Then now is the time that motivation counts!
What are the components of a life worth living? Many people would say that their relationship with their spouse and their children are an important part of what makes their life worthwhile. Do keep this in mind, though. Family life and marriage are not always easy. It requires that you put time in with those special people. It requires you to learn to be patient and keep your cool, too. Right now is the time to get motivated and start taking that weekly date with your spouse. Right now is the time to start having dinner with your kids and talking about their day. Now is the time motivation counts!
If you're single, you don't have to give up hope. You can know that fulfillment, too. The person you eventually attract will depend a lot on the person you are. A good rule of thumb is to be the person you desire to make your mate. In other words, do you want someone who is patient and loyal? Honest and humble? Virtuous and hard-working? Then be those things yourself. Then get out there and meet people. Or go online. With today's internet options, there is no reason everyone can't find Mr. or Ms. Right. But now is the time to get motivated and work toward that dream. Motivation counts now!
Another thing that makes life worth living is having the ability to have fun. This can mean having enough money to take vacations and the like, and with motivation, you might be able to have the money you want. However, if you don't learn to relax and enjoy what you have, the money itself might never really bring you the fun you crave. An easy-going, up-beat, contented attitude goes farther than money when it comes to having fun. If you don't have this type of outlook, then now is the time to get motivated and become more positive. Now is when motivation counts!
Almost everyone is required to work in order to have food on the table and a roof over their head. If your job makes you miserable, then even with a great family and lots of fun, you're going to be putting in forty hours a week of misery. How can you improve this picture? Do you need to look for a job in a different line of work? Or would a successful work-at-home business be perfect for you? If your income or work tasks are unsatisfactory to you, then it's time to push yourself a little to make a change. Motivation counts now!
So when does motivation count? Maybe a better question would be, when doesn't it count?
By T Young
What are the components of a life worth living? Many people would say that their relationship with their spouse and their children are an important part of what makes their life worthwhile. Do keep this in mind, though. Family life and marriage are not always easy. It requires that you put time in with those special people. It requires you to learn to be patient and keep your cool, too. Right now is the time to get motivated and start taking that weekly date with your spouse. Right now is the time to start having dinner with your kids and talking about their day. Now is the time motivation counts!
If you're single, you don't have to give up hope. You can know that fulfillment, too. The person you eventually attract will depend a lot on the person you are. A good rule of thumb is to be the person you desire to make your mate. In other words, do you want someone who is patient and loyal? Honest and humble? Virtuous and hard-working? Then be those things yourself. Then get out there and meet people. Or go online. With today's internet options, there is no reason everyone can't find Mr. or Ms. Right. But now is the time to get motivated and work toward that dream. Motivation counts now!
Another thing that makes life worth living is having the ability to have fun. This can mean having enough money to take vacations and the like, and with motivation, you might be able to have the money you want. However, if you don't learn to relax and enjoy what you have, the money itself might never really bring you the fun you crave. An easy-going, up-beat, contented attitude goes farther than money when it comes to having fun. If you don't have this type of outlook, then now is the time to get motivated and become more positive. Now is when motivation counts!
Almost everyone is required to work in order to have food on the table and a roof over their head. If your job makes you miserable, then even with a great family and lots of fun, you're going to be putting in forty hours a week of misery. How can you improve this picture? Do you need to look for a job in a different line of work? Or would a successful work-at-home business be perfect for you? If your income or work tasks are unsatisfactory to you, then it's time to push yourself a little to make a change. Motivation counts now!
So when does motivation count? Maybe a better question would be, when doesn't it count?
By T Young
motivation : Hurricanes and Motivation
It is amazing sometimes how many people cannot find the motivation to do the things they need to do in their daily lives. Yet, when a major catastrophic hurricane comes along they seem to find the motivation to get out of the way and get out of town during the mandatory evacuation. If someone had that sort of motivation in their lives and took things more seriously that they do perhaps they would have a reason to propel themselves forward and achieve their goals.
A hurricane is a very motivating factor indeed. In fact hurricane Katrina motivated the President of the United States to fly back to Washington and the United States Congress to standard $200 billion to repair the Gulf Coast of the United States of America. After seeing the destruction in New Orleans when the levees broke from hurricane Katrina it has motivated us to build the levies stronger when we should have done it all along.
Had we had significant motivation prior to this to monitor and make sure that those levees were secure, safe and super strong they may not have broken in the first place. Hurricanes can be a very motivating factor indeed.
Next time you are having trouble finding motivation in one of your daily endeavors or projects perhaps you'll consider this 2006 Atlantic tropical hurricane season and the motivation it provides people to do something and tap into that if you want to accomplish your objectives. Please consider this 2006.
by Lance Winslow
A hurricane is a very motivating factor indeed. In fact hurricane Katrina motivated the President of the United States to fly back to Washington and the United States Congress to standard $200 billion to repair the Gulf Coast of the United States of America. After seeing the destruction in New Orleans when the levees broke from hurricane Katrina it has motivated us to build the levies stronger when we should have done it all along.
Had we had significant motivation prior to this to monitor and make sure that those levees were secure, safe and super strong they may not have broken in the first place. Hurricanes can be a very motivating factor indeed.
Next time you are having trouble finding motivation in one of your daily endeavors or projects perhaps you'll consider this 2006 Atlantic tropical hurricane season and the motivation it provides people to do something and tap into that if you want to accomplish your objectives. Please consider this 2006.
by Lance Winslow
Friday, August 25, 2006
motivation : Employee Motivation
There was a time when economy was not growing as fast as it is now. Employees were considered tools to produce goods and services, and there was only one difference between a good organization and a bad one: money. Organizations offering more money were good, and the ones offering less were not considered to be good.
But with the turning of a new century and with the younger generation taking over from the older ones, the entire scenario changed. The worldwide wave of globalization and liberalization also gave a fillip to the changing mindsets of the people. New studies in psychoanalysis brought forth some surprising facts: employees are not motivated solely by money, and employee behavior is directly related to their attitudes.
A systematic study on the behavioral patterns of employees in different organizations discovered that there can be a drastic change in the productivity of their work if they are given daily inspiration and motivation. Handling business operations became the secondary focus of the managers; the primary one was to tend to the needs of the employees and keep a watch on behavioral patterns.
Corporate bodies started hiring managers who could positively reinforce employee behaviors through the regular doses of motivation that lead to positive outcomes. Motivational trainers acquired great importance as they were given the responsibility to keep the entire business team happy and motivated.
Soon people started realizing the power of working with a motivated mindset. Employers understood this aspect of human psychology: by creating a congenial work environment they can make the work interesting, and by giving good wages, appreciating employees for the work done, and giving them job security, promotions and growth in the organization, they can take their business to the mountains of success. Motivation soon became a wonderful formula of success.
By Richard Romando
But with the turning of a new century and with the younger generation taking over from the older ones, the entire scenario changed. The worldwide wave of globalization and liberalization also gave a fillip to the changing mindsets of the people. New studies in psychoanalysis brought forth some surprising facts: employees are not motivated solely by money, and employee behavior is directly related to their attitudes.
A systematic study on the behavioral patterns of employees in different organizations discovered that there can be a drastic change in the productivity of their work if they are given daily inspiration and motivation. Handling business operations became the secondary focus of the managers; the primary one was to tend to the needs of the employees and keep a watch on behavioral patterns.
Corporate bodies started hiring managers who could positively reinforce employee behaviors through the regular doses of motivation that lead to positive outcomes. Motivational trainers acquired great importance as they were given the responsibility to keep the entire business team happy and motivated.
Soon people started realizing the power of working with a motivated mindset. Employers understood this aspect of human psychology: by creating a congenial work environment they can make the work interesting, and by giving good wages, appreciating employees for the work done, and giving them job security, promotions and growth in the organization, they can take their business to the mountains of success. Motivation soon became a wonderful formula of success.
By Richard Romando
motivation : Are You Stuck In One Of The Common Motivation Traps?
Everyone is motivated. However they aren't always motivated by the things that we would like them to be motivated by.
There have been countless studies and case histories done on the subject of motivation. Although there are many similarities as well as differences in their ultimate results there are several concepts that can be pulled from all the research regardless of its focus or purpose.
Motivation is often seen as an illusive yet critical idea when we attempt to discover what seems to push some people forward while keeping others stuck in a way of thinking, acting or believing.
Let's look at a few common consequences of the available body of research.
One. No one can ever have it all or do it all. People have motivation in degrees. Some seem to be overflowing with it while other's have trouble getting out of bed each morning..
Two. It is individual. What motivates one person often has no affect on the next person.
Three. To be effective for the long term it must be an inside-out, not outside-in process or philosophy.
Four. The common types of motivation of fear and reward have their limitations and positive and negative consequences.
Five. People get it and lose it at various times in their life for very predictable and/or very illusive reasons.
Six. Goals, values, beliefs, expectations, attitudes, circumstances, perceptions and emotions all play a vital role in a persons ultimate motivation..
Seven. Where there is an inconsistency between talent or ability and outcomes, motivation, whether positive or negative, always plays a role in contributing to why.
Eight. You can't measure motivation. You can measure results but motivation is not the only factor contributing to results.
Nine. The word motivation contains the concepts of motive, goals or purpose and action. Purpose and motives can range from the idealistic, transitory and spiritual to the more concrete, practical and factual. Action can range from sporadic to focused, from a little to allot, from now to later.
Ten. No one can ever really know why another person does or does not do, feel or act in a certain way. Human behavior is somewhat predictable but it is not an absolute science.
Let's get back to the title of this article of common motivation traps. What are they?
As an employee as well as a business owner, father, speaker, consultant and trainer I have witnessed a variety of frustration among a great deal of people due to their lack of understanding of the concept of motivation and their relationship to and their responsibility for other people in their life.
Motivation and the amount of it, at any given time in a persons life, is a very personal thing. People can influence other people for good or for evil but the ultimate responsibility for a person's behavior is, has been and always will be, themselves. One of the greatest frustrations in a person's life is the unrealized expectation of another persons behavior. In other words, why won't my kids, spouse, parents, employees, customers, friends etc. act, think or feel the way I think they should? Why do these same people act, think and feel the way they do? Don't have a clue folks.
Our role as managers, parents, spouses, friends and so on is not to motivate other people. You see we can't really. Real motivation is an inside-out process. When we believe that we can motivate others, we are assuming motivation is an outside-in process. Our role is to create an environment where people would want to, and are able to motivate themselves.
If you look back at the two traditional motivators of fear and reward you will see that they 're both based on an outside-in philosophy. They are only as successful as the person being "motivated" is willing to let them influence them. For example if you use fear on an employee, let's say the threat of the loss of their job to get them to improve their performance. If they have the attitude, I don't need your job, I am a talented and hard working individual, I quit. Your threat was useless.
Fear and rewards as motivators are only effective if the person you are trying to motivate is concerned or interested in your threat of punishment or your reward. These motivators are really a motivational environment. Neither of these environments contribute to peak performance behavior within an individual. In the long term they are more negative than positive. Yes, even reward motivation can have its negative consequences.
People have not basically changed in the past several hundred years. Most people want the same things in life. Recognition and/or praise, challenge, a feeling they are making a contribution, security, to exercise the freedom of choice, the need to be in on things, to feel worthwhile and productive and the ability to have influence or control over their life and destiny.
If you want a motivated family, organization, team, department or group of any kind satisfy as many of the above needs for the individual or group as you can. If you want a de-motivated team, group, organization etc provide none of these.
By Tim Connor
There have been countless studies and case histories done on the subject of motivation. Although there are many similarities as well as differences in their ultimate results there are several concepts that can be pulled from all the research regardless of its focus or purpose.
Motivation is often seen as an illusive yet critical idea when we attempt to discover what seems to push some people forward while keeping others stuck in a way of thinking, acting or believing.
Let's look at a few common consequences of the available body of research.
One. No one can ever have it all or do it all. People have motivation in degrees. Some seem to be overflowing with it while other's have trouble getting out of bed each morning..
Two. It is individual. What motivates one person often has no affect on the next person.
Three. To be effective for the long term it must be an inside-out, not outside-in process or philosophy.
Four. The common types of motivation of fear and reward have their limitations and positive and negative consequences.
Five. People get it and lose it at various times in their life for very predictable and/or very illusive reasons.
Six. Goals, values, beliefs, expectations, attitudes, circumstances, perceptions and emotions all play a vital role in a persons ultimate motivation..
Seven. Where there is an inconsistency between talent or ability and outcomes, motivation, whether positive or negative, always plays a role in contributing to why.
Eight. You can't measure motivation. You can measure results but motivation is not the only factor contributing to results.
Nine. The word motivation contains the concepts of motive, goals or purpose and action. Purpose and motives can range from the idealistic, transitory and spiritual to the more concrete, practical and factual. Action can range from sporadic to focused, from a little to allot, from now to later.
Ten. No one can ever really know why another person does or does not do, feel or act in a certain way. Human behavior is somewhat predictable but it is not an absolute science.
Let's get back to the title of this article of common motivation traps. What are they?
As an employee as well as a business owner, father, speaker, consultant and trainer I have witnessed a variety of frustration among a great deal of people due to their lack of understanding of the concept of motivation and their relationship to and their responsibility for other people in their life.
Motivation and the amount of it, at any given time in a persons life, is a very personal thing. People can influence other people for good or for evil but the ultimate responsibility for a person's behavior is, has been and always will be, themselves. One of the greatest frustrations in a person's life is the unrealized expectation of another persons behavior. In other words, why won't my kids, spouse, parents, employees, customers, friends etc. act, think or feel the way I think they should? Why do these same people act, think and feel the way they do? Don't have a clue folks.
Our role as managers, parents, spouses, friends and so on is not to motivate other people. You see we can't really. Real motivation is an inside-out process. When we believe that we can motivate others, we are assuming motivation is an outside-in process. Our role is to create an environment where people would want to, and are able to motivate themselves.
If you look back at the two traditional motivators of fear and reward you will see that they 're both based on an outside-in philosophy. They are only as successful as the person being "motivated" is willing to let them influence them. For example if you use fear on an employee, let's say the threat of the loss of their job to get them to improve their performance. If they have the attitude, I don't need your job, I am a talented and hard working individual, I quit. Your threat was useless.
Fear and rewards as motivators are only effective if the person you are trying to motivate is concerned or interested in your threat of punishment or your reward. These motivators are really a motivational environment. Neither of these environments contribute to peak performance behavior within an individual. In the long term they are more negative than positive. Yes, even reward motivation can have its negative consequences.
People have not basically changed in the past several hundred years. Most people want the same things in life. Recognition and/or praise, challenge, a feeling they are making a contribution, security, to exercise the freedom of choice, the need to be in on things, to feel worthwhile and productive and the ability to have influence or control over their life and destiny.
If you want a motivated family, organization, team, department or group of any kind satisfy as many of the above needs for the individual or group as you can. If you want a de-motivated team, group, organization etc provide none of these.
By Tim Connor
motivation : The True Cost Of A Lack of Motivation
And what a lack of motivation means..
As you read this article you will start to understand why a lack of motivation is costing you even more than you realize.
As you read the story below notice how much you have in common with me...
Growing up I never really had much trouble getting things done. I was told what to do by my parents or by my teachers and I did what was expected of me because it was the easiest choice for me.
Getting punished never appealed to me very much.
Then as I got older and especially when I joined the workforce I could get away with doing less and with leaving things until the deadline approached.
In fact in one company where I worked it made no sense finishing work before the deadlines because management kept moving the goal posts.
And very often I worked with people who refused to stretch themselves. This culture of doing as little as you can and appearing to be productive slowly dragged me down.
Over the years as a result of experiences like these I developed bad habits.
One of those habits was a lack of motivation habit.
I can see now how a few bad choices in how I approached work affected all aspects of my life.
The same may be true for you...
What we did over the years was create bad habits that need to be given up and replaced with a new way of behaving.
Do you realize what these bad habits have cost you in your life?
1. You missed the sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction that comes with succeeding on a big scale.
2. You lost the respect of your peers and you are excluded from the winners circle.
3. You no longer feel in control of your destiny and in fact you are a victim of circumstance.
4. You earn far less than people of lesser intelligence and ability.
5. You worry about the future because you fear you may not be able to deal with things.
A lack of motivation is a bad habit you can and must change.
Now is the time to take charge of this situation. I can tell you from my own experience that nothing will change until you decide to change.
And nothing will improve until you improve it...
You owe it to yourself and to the people who care about you to seize the day and make your life something to be proud of.
The satisfaction that comes from living life on your own terms is a wonderful gift you deserve to enjoy. And you will only have this once you know how to motivate yourself to create the life you dream of.
My income jumped, my social life improved dramatically and new opportunities for having even more of what I wanted all came about for me. But only after I learned the secrets of self-motivation and how to kill a lack of motivation.
The world did not change. Other people did not change. I changed.
Only When YOU change will your world change for the better.
Before I go...
Think of those people who look down on your lack of progress and take you for granted. Think of that sense you have of not been in control.
All of these feelings of dissatisfaction are not going to disappear-- in fact they will dominate your life as the years pass you by.
These issues are not going to go away all by themselves.
I tried the wait and see approach - it does not work!
Thankfully there is a solution, a proven way of taking charge of your life and developing self-motivation.
*** Motivation is an essential life skill and you can discover how to be motivated and stay motivated. ***
Although some lucky people seem to be born highly motivated, if you are of at least average intelligence you can learn how to be motivated.
No matter how unmotivated you have been up to now.
The secret to being motivated is to discover the motivation blueprint that is right for you.
Imagine no longer having a lack of motivation!
By Peter Murphy
As you read this article you will start to understand why a lack of motivation is costing you even more than you realize.
As you read the story below notice how much you have in common with me...
Growing up I never really had much trouble getting things done. I was told what to do by my parents or by my teachers and I did what was expected of me because it was the easiest choice for me.
Getting punished never appealed to me very much.
Then as I got older and especially when I joined the workforce I could get away with doing less and with leaving things until the deadline approached.
In fact in one company where I worked it made no sense finishing work before the deadlines because management kept moving the goal posts.
And very often I worked with people who refused to stretch themselves. This culture of doing as little as you can and appearing to be productive slowly dragged me down.
Over the years as a result of experiences like these I developed bad habits.
One of those habits was a lack of motivation habit.
I can see now how a few bad choices in how I approached work affected all aspects of my life.
The same may be true for you...
What we did over the years was create bad habits that need to be given up and replaced with a new way of behaving.
Do you realize what these bad habits have cost you in your life?
1. You missed the sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction that comes with succeeding on a big scale.
2. You lost the respect of your peers and you are excluded from the winners circle.
3. You no longer feel in control of your destiny and in fact you are a victim of circumstance.
4. You earn far less than people of lesser intelligence and ability.
5. You worry about the future because you fear you may not be able to deal with things.
A lack of motivation is a bad habit you can and must change.
Now is the time to take charge of this situation. I can tell you from my own experience that nothing will change until you decide to change.
And nothing will improve until you improve it...
You owe it to yourself and to the people who care about you to seize the day and make your life something to be proud of.
The satisfaction that comes from living life on your own terms is a wonderful gift you deserve to enjoy. And you will only have this once you know how to motivate yourself to create the life you dream of.
My income jumped, my social life improved dramatically and new opportunities for having even more of what I wanted all came about for me. But only after I learned the secrets of self-motivation and how to kill a lack of motivation.
The world did not change. Other people did not change. I changed.
Only When YOU change will your world change for the better.
Before I go...
Think of those people who look down on your lack of progress and take you for granted. Think of that sense you have of not been in control.
All of these feelings of dissatisfaction are not going to disappear-- in fact they will dominate your life as the years pass you by.
These issues are not going to go away all by themselves.
I tried the wait and see approach - it does not work!
Thankfully there is a solution, a proven way of taking charge of your life and developing self-motivation.
*** Motivation is an essential life skill and you can discover how to be motivated and stay motivated. ***
Although some lucky people seem to be born highly motivated, if you are of at least average intelligence you can learn how to be motivated.
No matter how unmotivated you have been up to now.
The secret to being motivated is to discover the motivation blueprint that is right for you.
Imagine no longer having a lack of motivation!
By Peter Murphy
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
motivation : Motivation and engagement
Motivation and engagement in Edna Dunn-Rogers' multiage class of third- and fourth- grade students is readily evident. It's not the curriculum or specific models used (though those things are important), instead it is the philosophies that guide her practice which make the biggest impact on students. She believes strongly that children's environments shape their minds. She also believes that when they are in her classroom, she is their environment. The way she interacts with them plays a critical role in their development as students and individuals. She sees that her role is to provide a positive environment for students and then to let them learn in whatever way is best for them. Success is measured on an individual basis, recognizing that it means different things to different students. With this understanding, Dunn-Rogers begins each year by emphasizing the importance of community in the classroom. She tells her students that they are a family and that everything that happens in the class should build up the family. As a group they discuss hopes and expectations for each of them. The students encourage each other to do their best work and portray caring attitudes toward one another. They understand that they are responsible for their own actions.
She also sets the tone by emphasizing the importance of respect -- respect for differences, for choices, and for diversity in general. Throughout the year she tries to help students broaden their perspective in how they view others. They learn that there is more than one way to find an answer. Schoolwide activities at Meadows, such as the annual Multicultural Fair, also give students a deeper appreciation for diversity. This event taps into the school's rich cultural variety by bringing in families and cultural experts for a one-day celebration that offers the community a close-up look at the food, dress, dance, and customs from around the world. With more than nine unique cultures represented at Meadows, the event raises awareness among teachers, students, and parents and helps them recognize the importance of diversity in their community.
In matters of classroom management, consistency is key in Dunn-Rogers' room. Not one to yell, she works instead toward helping students become metacognitive thinkers who can manage themselves. When problems do arise, they are dealt with directly. Solutions are followed through with and successes are always celebrated.
Students are empowered in Dunn-Rogers' classroom to be more than learners. They are also teachers. At the beginning of the school year she asks students what subject they feel they are particularly good in. Based on their responses, students all have the opportunity to become peer teachers in one of several classroom study groups. Each study group of four students meets on a regular basis, with the peer teacher leading and assisting fellow students. There are study groups for math and reading, as well as social studies. Most of the groups meet three times a week, oftentimes during recess (the groups do not meet during regular instruction time). This instructional strategy provides struggling students with additional practice. It also bolsters the confidence of peer teachers who recognize the importance of their contribution to the classroom community.
Beyond instruction, Dunn-Rogers feels that it is vitally important to share in the lives of her students. To her it means spending personal time with them. If they ask her to attend their church, she will. If they want her to come to their home, she does. It's her way of letting them know how much they mean to her. This level of attention doesn't end when they leave her classroom, either; she strives to stay in touch with students as they progress throughout their lives. This means attending graduation ceremonies, making phone calls, or doing whatever is necessary to communicate her concern for their success. She knows that her enthusiasm and encouragement of each student can make the difference in a child's self-esteem and long-term growth.
by Dunn-Rogers
She also sets the tone by emphasizing the importance of respect -- respect for differences, for choices, and for diversity in general. Throughout the year she tries to help students broaden their perspective in how they view others. They learn that there is more than one way to find an answer. Schoolwide activities at Meadows, such as the annual Multicultural Fair, also give students a deeper appreciation for diversity. This event taps into the school's rich cultural variety by bringing in families and cultural experts for a one-day celebration that offers the community a close-up look at the food, dress, dance, and customs from around the world. With more than nine unique cultures represented at Meadows, the event raises awareness among teachers, students, and parents and helps them recognize the importance of diversity in their community.
In matters of classroom management, consistency is key in Dunn-Rogers' room. Not one to yell, she works instead toward helping students become metacognitive thinkers who can manage themselves. When problems do arise, they are dealt with directly. Solutions are followed through with and successes are always celebrated.
Students are empowered in Dunn-Rogers' classroom to be more than learners. They are also teachers. At the beginning of the school year she asks students what subject they feel they are particularly good in. Based on their responses, students all have the opportunity to become peer teachers in one of several classroom study groups. Each study group of four students meets on a regular basis, with the peer teacher leading and assisting fellow students. There are study groups for math and reading, as well as social studies. Most of the groups meet three times a week, oftentimes during recess (the groups do not meet during regular instruction time). This instructional strategy provides struggling students with additional practice. It also bolsters the confidence of peer teachers who recognize the importance of their contribution to the classroom community.
Beyond instruction, Dunn-Rogers feels that it is vitally important to share in the lives of her students. To her it means spending personal time with them. If they ask her to attend their church, she will. If they want her to come to their home, she does. It's her way of letting them know how much they mean to her. This level of attention doesn't end when they leave her classroom, either; she strives to stay in touch with students as they progress throughout their lives. This means attending graduation ceremonies, making phone calls, or doing whatever is necessary to communicate her concern for their success. She knows that her enthusiasm and encouragement of each student can make the difference in a child's self-esteem and long-term growth.
by Dunn-Rogers
motivation : Strategies for Increasing Motivation
Ample research has demonstrated that school practices can and do affect a student's level of motivation (Lumsden, 1994). Skinner and Belmont (1991) caution, however, that this may not always be for the better:
If left to run their typical course, teachers tend to magnify children's initial levels of motivation. This is fine for students who enter the classroom motivationally "rich"; they will "get rich." However, for students whose motivation is low, their typical classroom experiences may result in its further deterioration
To be sure, efforts to promote student motivation need not be directed solely at students who have low levels of motivation. All students (and all schools, for that matter) would benefit from higher levels of engagement and motivation to succeed (Anderman & Midgley, 1998; Lumsden, 1994). Following are suggestions for both teachers and administrators seeking to increase students' motivation to learn:
At the classroom level:
Use extrinsic rewards sparingly. If extrinsic motivators are to be used, they are most effective when rewards are closely related to the task accomplished. Also, rewards should only be given when they are clearly deserved. Giving a prize for minimally successful work sends the message that minimum effort is acceptable, and the reward then becomes meaningless.
Ensure that classroom expectations for performance and behavior are clear and consistent (Skinner & Belmont, 1991). Help students understand the criteria for individual assignments by giving them examples of high-, average-, and low-level work and then providing an opportunity to discuss how each piece was evaluated.
Make students feel welcome and supported (Lumsden, 1994). Elementary school students in particular need to feel that teachers are involved in their lives. Take time to get to know students, talk to them individually, and "express enjoyment in [your] interactions" (Skinner & Belmont, 1991).
Respond positively to student questions, and praise students verbally for work well done (Dev, 1997).
Work to build quality relationships with students, especially those considered to be at-risk and without other positive adult interaction; this is a critical factor of student engagement that allows children to foster a sense of connection with school (McCombs & Pope, 1994).
Break large tasks into a series of smaller goals (Lumsden, 1994). Doing so prevents students from becoming overwhelmed and discouraged by lengthy projects.
Promote mastery learning (Anderman & Midgley, 1998). "When a student completes an assignment that does not meet the expected criteria, give her or him one or more opportunities to tackle the task again, with guidelines on how to achieve the desired result"
Evaluate student work as soon as possible after project completion, and be sure that feedback is clear and constructive (Strong et al., 1995).
Evaluate students based on the task, not in comparison to other students (Anderman & Midgley, 1998; Dev, 1997; Lumsden, 1994).
At the school and district levels:
Make increasing student motivation a priority in school reform and restructuring efforts (Renchler, 1992; Skinner & Belmont, 1991).
Create a school culture that emphasizes the importance of academic achievement. Design schoolwide symbols to show students that learning is valuable and that the entire staff is invested in students' success (Renchler, 1992).
Model and communicate the value of lifelong learning (McCombs & Whisler, 1997;.
Develop a school climate that recognizes individual differences, encourages creativity, and gives both teachers and students a sense of autonomy. Particularly important is allowing students and teachers to have some degree of control over teaching and learning (McCombs & Whisler, 1997).
Support teachers' efforts to increase student motivation, encouraging student-centered learning and outcomes-based instruction (McCombs & Whisler, 1997; Renchler, 1992). Additionally, recognize teachers' individual learning needs and be supportive of their continuing education and involvement in research (McCombs & Whisler, 1997).
Provide and participate in professional development activities that deal with motivation, effective use of homework, and student engagement (Renchler, 1992).
Finally, develop ways to involve parents (McCombs & Whisler, 1997). Discuss the issue of motivation with parents, involve them in the school's efforts to increase student engagement, and "give them guidance in fostering [motivation] in their children".
© 2001 Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
If left to run their typical course, teachers tend to magnify children's initial levels of motivation. This is fine for students who enter the classroom motivationally "rich"; they will "get rich." However, for students whose motivation is low, their typical classroom experiences may result in its further deterioration
To be sure, efforts to promote student motivation need not be directed solely at students who have low levels of motivation. All students (and all schools, for that matter) would benefit from higher levels of engagement and motivation to succeed (Anderman & Midgley, 1998; Lumsden, 1994). Following are suggestions for both teachers and administrators seeking to increase students' motivation to learn:
At the classroom level:
Use extrinsic rewards sparingly. If extrinsic motivators are to be used, they are most effective when rewards are closely related to the task accomplished. Also, rewards should only be given when they are clearly deserved. Giving a prize for minimally successful work sends the message that minimum effort is acceptable, and the reward then becomes meaningless.
Ensure that classroom expectations for performance and behavior are clear and consistent (Skinner & Belmont, 1991). Help students understand the criteria for individual assignments by giving them examples of high-, average-, and low-level work and then providing an opportunity to discuss how each piece was evaluated.
Make students feel welcome and supported (Lumsden, 1994). Elementary school students in particular need to feel that teachers are involved in their lives. Take time to get to know students, talk to them individually, and "express enjoyment in [your] interactions" (Skinner & Belmont, 1991).
Respond positively to student questions, and praise students verbally for work well done (Dev, 1997).
Work to build quality relationships with students, especially those considered to be at-risk and without other positive adult interaction; this is a critical factor of student engagement that allows children to foster a sense of connection with school (McCombs & Pope, 1994).
Break large tasks into a series of smaller goals (Lumsden, 1994). Doing so prevents students from becoming overwhelmed and discouraged by lengthy projects.
Promote mastery learning (Anderman & Midgley, 1998). "When a student completes an assignment that does not meet the expected criteria, give her or him one or more opportunities to tackle the task again, with guidelines on how to achieve the desired result"
Evaluate student work as soon as possible after project completion, and be sure that feedback is clear and constructive (Strong et al., 1995).
Evaluate students based on the task, not in comparison to other students (Anderman & Midgley, 1998; Dev, 1997; Lumsden, 1994).
At the school and district levels:
Make increasing student motivation a priority in school reform and restructuring efforts (Renchler, 1992; Skinner & Belmont, 1991).
Create a school culture that emphasizes the importance of academic achievement. Design schoolwide symbols to show students that learning is valuable and that the entire staff is invested in students' success (Renchler, 1992).
Model and communicate the value of lifelong learning (McCombs & Whisler, 1997;.
Develop a school climate that recognizes individual differences, encourages creativity, and gives both teachers and students a sense of autonomy. Particularly important is allowing students and teachers to have some degree of control over teaching and learning (McCombs & Whisler, 1997).
Support teachers' efforts to increase student motivation, encouraging student-centered learning and outcomes-based instruction (McCombs & Whisler, 1997; Renchler, 1992). Additionally, recognize teachers' individual learning needs and be supportive of their continuing education and involvement in research (McCombs & Whisler, 1997).
Provide and participate in professional development activities that deal with motivation, effective use of homework, and student engagement (Renchler, 1992).
Finally, develop ways to involve parents (McCombs & Whisler, 1997). Discuss the issue of motivation with parents, involve them in the school's efforts to increase student engagement, and "give them guidance in fostering [motivation] in their children".
© 2001 Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
motivation : How to Motivate Other People
An effective manager, or parent, gets the jobs done by motivating and directing the other people in the group. Motivating your colleagues, (or worse – your children!), is a skilled and challenging task. An enormous amount of research has been carried out but researchers have not always managed to explain their findings clearly. This article aims to explain how to motivate others in a jargon free way.
There are two main ways people are motivated.
Research in the UK has shown that just over 40% of us are motivated towards pleasure, about 40% away from pain, and almost 20% can be motivated either way.
What do I mean? Well, if you are motivated towards pleasure you are likely to complete work before the deadline so you can have the pleasure of relaxing afterwards, you go to the gym for the pleasure of looking good, you study a course for the pleasure of learning and the new job you can apply for. These people are likely to actively look for ways to improve their work, relationships and life.
If you are motivated away from pain you are likely to complete the work when you have must to avoid the pain of being criticized for not completing it, you go to the gym to avoid the pain of replacing the clothes you’ve outgrown, you study a course to avoid the pain of being made redundant.
How do you tell how a person is motivated?
You can get a quick rough guide by asking them a question which identifies how they go about making decisions and listen carefully to their answer. For example, you could ask, “how do you pick your holiday destination (or car/football team/children’s school/career, etc.)?” People who are motivated towards pleasure will tell you about the great weather/accommodation/journey/food/facilities available. People who are motivated away from pain will tell how it avoids the worst of the heat/the unknowns of new accommodation/long transfers/dodgy food etc.
How does this help?
When you know how a colleague or loved one is motivated, you can ask them to do things in the right way.
For example: imagine you have a tedious task which must be completed before you can start more interesting activities, for a person motivated towards pleasure it would motivate them if you said; “Once we’ve finished this we can begin (the barbeque/interesting activity)”. For a person who is motivated away from pain it would be more effective if you said; “ We need to finish this or the consequences will be (we’ll lose the contract/we won’t have time for a barbeque/etc)”.
by Helen Miller
There are two main ways people are motivated.
Research in the UK has shown that just over 40% of us are motivated towards pleasure, about 40% away from pain, and almost 20% can be motivated either way.
What do I mean? Well, if you are motivated towards pleasure you are likely to complete work before the deadline so you can have the pleasure of relaxing afterwards, you go to the gym for the pleasure of looking good, you study a course for the pleasure of learning and the new job you can apply for. These people are likely to actively look for ways to improve their work, relationships and life.
If you are motivated away from pain you are likely to complete the work when you have must to avoid the pain of being criticized for not completing it, you go to the gym to avoid the pain of replacing the clothes you’ve outgrown, you study a course to avoid the pain of being made redundant.
How do you tell how a person is motivated?
You can get a quick rough guide by asking them a question which identifies how they go about making decisions and listen carefully to their answer. For example, you could ask, “how do you pick your holiday destination (or car/football team/children’s school/career, etc.)?” People who are motivated towards pleasure will tell you about the great weather/accommodation/journey/food/facilities available. People who are motivated away from pain will tell how it avoids the worst of the heat/the unknowns of new accommodation/long transfers/dodgy food etc.
How does this help?
When you know how a colleague or loved one is motivated, you can ask them to do things in the right way.
For example: imagine you have a tedious task which must be completed before you can start more interesting activities, for a person motivated towards pleasure it would motivate them if you said; “Once we’ve finished this we can begin (the barbeque/interesting activity)”. For a person who is motivated away from pain it would be more effective if you said; “ We need to finish this or the consequences will be (we’ll lose the contract/we won’t have time for a barbeque/etc)”.
by Helen Miller
motivation : Are You Motivated Enough to Do Justice to Your Job?
To carry out any sort of work, the most essential thing required is motivation. A person is essentially required to stay motivated to perform any work. Motivation literally means stimulating the interest of a person to act in a particular way. This can be somewhat likened to cranking an engine.
How Can You Tell If You Are Not Motivated?
It is not difficult to tell. Things begin to look gloomy. Lethargic attitudes creep in. But the tragic part is, before you notice it there is else, perhaps your employer, who has noticed it already.
1. If you are a line employee, you will find more alibis and excuses to take breaks than normal. Although the work will not pile up for you, unlike for those who work in administrative jobs, it will eventually negatively affect the business.
2. You are frustrated about your own performance; your output does not reflect a healthy picture, and you are unprepared to take the blame for it.
3. Unwillingness or lack of interest to go to the office. Unfortunately, this is often evident even inside the office.
Why Does You Feel Unmotivated?
Although there are a multitude of reasons, the most common and important ones are:
1. Feeling of inferiority due to lack of training or expertise. Inferiority could also originate due to a subordinate or a colleague skyrocketing past you.
2. Your hard work and exemplary performance is not recognized and you clearly see a good chance being wasted due to rejection of your ideas. The latter reason can further demotivate you if you suspect a conspiracy, even if you can not substantiate it.
3. Soured relationship with boss or with a coworker and no significant increase in salary all contribute to render you unmotivated.
4. A souring relationship with a spouse, broken marriage or worse, death of a family member can devastate anyone easily. It is natural for anyone to become demotivated under these circumstances, despite efforts to contain emotions. Domestic problems like this of different degrees can quickly manifest as dampened spirits at work.
The Professional Risks Of A Demotivated Working Style
Not recuperating and failing to come to terms with life and work have a potential danger of leading to your dismissal. Languishing in such state of mind in professional work environments, with self-pity, where work demands your full attention, negatively affects your professional life.
Try meditation, walking in the wee hours, joining a social club or any unconventional way to come out of that negative feeling as fast as you can. If all else fails, you may have to look for another job.
by Tony Jacowski
How Can You Tell If You Are Not Motivated?
It is not difficult to tell. Things begin to look gloomy. Lethargic attitudes creep in. But the tragic part is, before you notice it there is else, perhaps your employer, who has noticed it already.
1. If you are a line employee, you will find more alibis and excuses to take breaks than normal. Although the work will not pile up for you, unlike for those who work in administrative jobs, it will eventually negatively affect the business.
2. You are frustrated about your own performance; your output does not reflect a healthy picture, and you are unprepared to take the blame for it.
3. Unwillingness or lack of interest to go to the office. Unfortunately, this is often evident even inside the office.
Why Does You Feel Unmotivated?
Although there are a multitude of reasons, the most common and important ones are:
1. Feeling of inferiority due to lack of training or expertise. Inferiority could also originate due to a subordinate or a colleague skyrocketing past you.
2. Your hard work and exemplary performance is not recognized and you clearly see a good chance being wasted due to rejection of your ideas. The latter reason can further demotivate you if you suspect a conspiracy, even if you can not substantiate it.
3. Soured relationship with boss or with a coworker and no significant increase in salary all contribute to render you unmotivated.
4. A souring relationship with a spouse, broken marriage or worse, death of a family member can devastate anyone easily. It is natural for anyone to become demotivated under these circumstances, despite efforts to contain emotions. Domestic problems like this of different degrees can quickly manifest as dampened spirits at work.
The Professional Risks Of A Demotivated Working Style
Not recuperating and failing to come to terms with life and work have a potential danger of leading to your dismissal. Languishing in such state of mind in professional work environments, with self-pity, where work demands your full attention, negatively affects your professional life.
Try meditation, walking in the wee hours, joining a social club or any unconventional way to come out of that negative feeling as fast as you can. If all else fails, you may have to look for another job.
by Tony Jacowski
Thursday, August 03, 2006
motivation : The Seven Keys to Motivation
Motivation. It’s a complicated subject that is studied by many and understood by few. Virtually every aspect of human life -- from the mundane to the life-changing -- is guided, swayed and altered by motivating factors.
For instance, what to have for dinner may be motivated by a desire to lose or gain weight. Whether or not to attend a business seminar may be motivated by the speakers, location and cost. When and where to buy new clothing may be motivated by a long list of personal preferences as well as the changing seasons and weather conditions.
Even reading this article is a motivated behavior. Do you like the style of writing? Are you curious about the subject matter? Do you have a desire to learn new information? Do you have enough time to finish reading? If the answers are no, you probably won’t continue reading!
But since you have continued, you are obviously motivated. You want to learn more about how to get and stay motivated, and how this motivation can help you become a better business owner.
THE BUSINESS OF MOTIVATION Motivation is one of the most powerful driving forces in the workplace. It can mean the difference between tremendous success and failure.
Motivation stems from two sources. The first part of motivation is external or extrinsic (outside the person) sources. Other motivating factors come from internal forces, which are mainly your thoughts, patterns and collective experiences.
However, humans are unique, so what motivates Jack will not necessarily motivate Jill. You -- and only you -- will be able to determine what works.
Take the time to examine what internal and external factors are motivating you as a business owner. What can you do to enhance and refine your motivation to make yourself more productive and more fulfilled?
Here are seven keys to motivation that may prove helpful.
1. INSPIRATION Inspiration is critical to getting and staying motivated. If you are not interested in your business, your motivation level will never be high and you won’t be able to sustain interest for very long.
On the flip side, if you are energized and excited about the work you are doing, you will have more persistence, energy and intensity.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest them in the least. These individuals will grow weary and uninterested pretty quickly because they have no inspiration or passion to sustain them during the difficult times they will encounter as a small business owner.
If you don’t really enjoy your work, then think how you can re-focus your small business to better match your needs. Or consider making a change entirely. That’s pretty drastic advice, but inspiration is that important.
2. SETTING GOALS Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you didn’t set goals, you would be adrift with nothing to strive for and no charted course to follow.
How could you possibly be motivated if you were unsure about the direction of your company?
Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than goals, strategies, implementation and a budget. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually. Include “mini-goals” that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days or weeks as well as the more ambitious “grand-goals” that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.
But can a business plan really help motivate you? Yes! Written goals will make you feel more professional and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.
3. NETWORKING Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is networking with other small business owners. One person can't move huge mountains. However, when a number of people begin working together the mountains are suddenly only small hills -- simply challenges waiting to be surmounted.
In fact, the isolation of working alone is of one the most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. Mutual support is motivating. So, make it easier on yourself by connecting with others either in your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.
Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of the business. Working together, a networking group can help its members generate more qualified sales leads and solve problems faster and more efficiently. Sharing ideas, expertise and experience is also an invaluable aspect of networking groups. And, don’t forget about sharing costs, possibly by buying in bulk or with joint marketing projects.
Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem too much. With your networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process. Certainly, you will feel less alone.
4. REWARD YOURSELF Small business owners will always have to work hard, but all work and no play is a huge mistake. Your motivation will soon begin to fall if you never take any time away from the demands of running the business.
So, plan frequent rewards for yourself. No, it doesn’t need to be a trip to Hawaii (although this is a great idea). Your reward can be as simple as a lunch out with an old friend, a matinee with your significant other, an afternoon of shopping or a relaxing massage.
If your budget and time will allow, take a few days off for a short trip or simply schedule a vacation from work for a few days. Make it a real vacation -- even if you don’t leave town -- so no checking email, voice mail or the fax machine. You need to get away, unwind and renew yourself. This “down” time to regenerate will help improve your attitude and perspective. It sounds corny, but you will come back to your business with a new sense of motivation.
5. EXERCISE While it isn’t always immediately apparent, there is a powerful connection between the mind and the body. It is vital for every small business owner to take breaks and exercise -- everyday. If your body isn’t healthy, your motivation will certainly suffer.
These exercise breaks don’t have to be huge blocks of time, and you needn’t spend money joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer. Start by walking briskly for 30 minutes before, during or after work. After you have incorporated a walk each day, then try doubling the time or doing two walks each day.
Whatever works for you is best, but the important thing is to start. You will begin to feel better.
After the walking is part of your routine, add some basic light weights. Buy a tape or go online to find out how to properly use the weights so you won’t injure yourself.
You can keep the weights under your desk, and use them for just a few minutes at a time. Buy a timer the next time you are at the grocery store. Set the timer for for three minutes to start and then add a minute or two until you’re up to 10 or 15 minutes each day.
Some small business owners have a television at work and they schedule a CNN break along with their weights. This way, they are catching up with world and local news while simultaneously getting some moderate exercise.
8. ORGANIZE Organization is critical to motivation. How can you feel good about your work, when you can’t find important papers or you are constantly late returning messages? Your business will falter and your motivation will suffer.
Some people just can’t get organized. If you are one of them, then consider bringing in someone -- a business friend, family member or professional -- to help you get the clutter and mess cleaned up. You will be amazed at how this one important step will help you get back on the organizational track. Don’t stop there. Now really get organized by creating business systems that will help you streamline your operations.
The real challenge will be keeping yourself on track by maintaining these systems. For many, it is a daily challenge, but if you use your organizational systems you’ll be free to think about other important issues.
7. MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS As small business owners, it seems we are bombarded with motivational ideas and materials-- tapes, books, CD’s, seminars, workbooks, videos and more. Why are there so many different motivational products, authors and speakers? Because people are buying these materials. Used effectively, they are effective and therefore they sell!
However, there are so many different motivational gurus that it is often difficult to see through the clutter to find someone that makes sense for you -- someone who can get you “fired up” about working and improving your business.
Try talking to your mentor or networking group members to see who they might recommend. Start being aware of the motivational industry and how it might help you become more enthused and positive about your business. Do some light research of your own to find some authors and speakers that interest you.
Before you invest in motivational materials, you can probably find some inexpensive ways to obtain the materials. Check out your local library, tune into your local PBS station, buy materials with a networking friend, visit used bookstores or buy used materials online. Don’t make a huge investment, because you will probably want to sample many different viewpoints.
But do these materials really work? Yes, but only if you make the effort. Just like exercise, you have to work the muscles -- in this case your mind muscles.
It is up to you to take that information and apply it to your own life and business. Really use the motivational ideas over a period of time and you will begin to see results.
KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING Motivation is what moves us forward in our daily and business lives. Take the time to examine your motivating factors and use some of these keys to improve your focus and renew your enthusiasm. If you keep on track, the motivation momentum can’t help but carry you forward.
By Nancy Wurtzel
For instance, what to have for dinner may be motivated by a desire to lose or gain weight. Whether or not to attend a business seminar may be motivated by the speakers, location and cost. When and where to buy new clothing may be motivated by a long list of personal preferences as well as the changing seasons and weather conditions.
Even reading this article is a motivated behavior. Do you like the style of writing? Are you curious about the subject matter? Do you have a desire to learn new information? Do you have enough time to finish reading? If the answers are no, you probably won’t continue reading!
But since you have continued, you are obviously motivated. You want to learn more about how to get and stay motivated, and how this motivation can help you become a better business owner.
THE BUSINESS OF MOTIVATION Motivation is one of the most powerful driving forces in the workplace. It can mean the difference between tremendous success and failure.
Motivation stems from two sources. The first part of motivation is external or extrinsic (outside the person) sources. Other motivating factors come from internal forces, which are mainly your thoughts, patterns and collective experiences.
However, humans are unique, so what motivates Jack will not necessarily motivate Jill. You -- and only you -- will be able to determine what works.
Take the time to examine what internal and external factors are motivating you as a business owner. What can you do to enhance and refine your motivation to make yourself more productive and more fulfilled?
Here are seven keys to motivation that may prove helpful.
1. INSPIRATION Inspiration is critical to getting and staying motivated. If you are not interested in your business, your motivation level will never be high and you won’t be able to sustain interest for very long.
On the flip side, if you are energized and excited about the work you are doing, you will have more persistence, energy and intensity.
Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest them in the least. These individuals will grow weary and uninterested pretty quickly because they have no inspiration or passion to sustain them during the difficult times they will encounter as a small business owner.
If you don’t really enjoy your work, then think how you can re-focus your small business to better match your needs. Or consider making a change entirely. That’s pretty drastic advice, but inspiration is that important.
2. SETTING GOALS Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you didn’t set goals, you would be adrift with nothing to strive for and no charted course to follow.
How could you possibly be motivated if you were unsure about the direction of your company?
Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than goals, strategies, implementation and a budget. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually. Include “mini-goals” that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days or weeks as well as the more ambitious “grand-goals” that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.
But can a business plan really help motivate you? Yes! Written goals will make you feel more professional and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.
3. NETWORKING Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is networking with other small business owners. One person can't move huge mountains. However, when a number of people begin working together the mountains are suddenly only small hills -- simply challenges waiting to be surmounted.
In fact, the isolation of working alone is of one the most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. Mutual support is motivating. So, make it easier on yourself by connecting with others either in your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.
Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of the business. Working together, a networking group can help its members generate more qualified sales leads and solve problems faster and more efficiently. Sharing ideas, expertise and experience is also an invaluable aspect of networking groups. And, don’t forget about sharing costs, possibly by buying in bulk or with joint marketing projects.
Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem too much. With your networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process. Certainly, you will feel less alone.
4. REWARD YOURSELF Small business owners will always have to work hard, but all work and no play is a huge mistake. Your motivation will soon begin to fall if you never take any time away from the demands of running the business.
So, plan frequent rewards for yourself. No, it doesn’t need to be a trip to Hawaii (although this is a great idea). Your reward can be as simple as a lunch out with an old friend, a matinee with your significant other, an afternoon of shopping or a relaxing massage.
If your budget and time will allow, take a few days off for a short trip or simply schedule a vacation from work for a few days. Make it a real vacation -- even if you don’t leave town -- so no checking email, voice mail or the fax machine. You need to get away, unwind and renew yourself. This “down” time to regenerate will help improve your attitude and perspective. It sounds corny, but you will come back to your business with a new sense of motivation.
5. EXERCISE While it isn’t always immediately apparent, there is a powerful connection between the mind and the body. It is vital for every small business owner to take breaks and exercise -- everyday. If your body isn’t healthy, your motivation will certainly suffer.
These exercise breaks don’t have to be huge blocks of time, and you needn’t spend money joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer. Start by walking briskly for 30 minutes before, during or after work. After you have incorporated a walk each day, then try doubling the time or doing two walks each day.
Whatever works for you is best, but the important thing is to start. You will begin to feel better.
After the walking is part of your routine, add some basic light weights. Buy a tape or go online to find out how to properly use the weights so you won’t injure yourself.
You can keep the weights under your desk, and use them for just a few minutes at a time. Buy a timer the next time you are at the grocery store. Set the timer for for three minutes to start and then add a minute or two until you’re up to 10 or 15 minutes each day.
Some small business owners have a television at work and they schedule a CNN break along with their weights. This way, they are catching up with world and local news while simultaneously getting some moderate exercise.
8. ORGANIZE Organization is critical to motivation. How can you feel good about your work, when you can’t find important papers or you are constantly late returning messages? Your business will falter and your motivation will suffer.
Some people just can’t get organized. If you are one of them, then consider bringing in someone -- a business friend, family member or professional -- to help you get the clutter and mess cleaned up. You will be amazed at how this one important step will help you get back on the organizational track. Don’t stop there. Now really get organized by creating business systems that will help you streamline your operations.
The real challenge will be keeping yourself on track by maintaining these systems. For many, it is a daily challenge, but if you use your organizational systems you’ll be free to think about other important issues.
7. MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS As small business owners, it seems we are bombarded with motivational ideas and materials-- tapes, books, CD’s, seminars, workbooks, videos and more. Why are there so many different motivational products, authors and speakers? Because people are buying these materials. Used effectively, they are effective and therefore they sell!
However, there are so many different motivational gurus that it is often difficult to see through the clutter to find someone that makes sense for you -- someone who can get you “fired up” about working and improving your business.
Try talking to your mentor or networking group members to see who they might recommend. Start being aware of the motivational industry and how it might help you become more enthused and positive about your business. Do some light research of your own to find some authors and speakers that interest you.
Before you invest in motivational materials, you can probably find some inexpensive ways to obtain the materials. Check out your local library, tune into your local PBS station, buy materials with a networking friend, visit used bookstores or buy used materials online. Don’t make a huge investment, because you will probably want to sample many different viewpoints.
But do these materials really work? Yes, but only if you make the effort. Just like exercise, you have to work the muscles -- in this case your mind muscles.
It is up to you to take that information and apply it to your own life and business. Really use the motivational ideas over a period of time and you will begin to see results.
KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING Motivation is what moves us forward in our daily and business lives. Take the time to examine your motivating factors and use some of these keys to improve your focus and renew your enthusiasm. If you keep on track, the motivation momentum can’t help but carry you forward.
By Nancy Wurtzel
motivation : Daily Motivation
In successful people, motivation is the main driving force. Psychologists and neuro-specialists have different opinions based on their research findings. But all of them unanimously agree to the one generic definition of motivation, which is a mental state that stimulates the behavior and arouses goal-oriented desire in the human mind. Theories developed by psychoanalysts support the fact that the dose of daily motivation in an individual’s life is very necessary for him to excel in his profession and also maintain a good harmony with his surroundings.
The success stories of many millionaires, like advertising godfather David Ogilvy and the famous American industrialist Lee Iacocca is the witness to the fact that had they not got inspiration and motivation in their daily lives they would have not have ascended the stairs of success.
There are various sociobiological theories of motivation which say that humans have four basic needs. The first one is the ability to register the images of the objects and experiences, the second one is the strong bond of long-term relationships based on love, care and commitment, the third one involves a higher understanding to learn about the things happening around us, and the fourth one is the climax of highly evolved personalities who know when to defend themselves and their loved ones from any kind of mental or emotional harm. These theories strongly advocate that for continuous personality development, these basic needs have to be fulfilled.
The concept of emotional intelligence, popularized by the famous author Daniel Goleman, suggests that a person may be highly intelligent yet unmotivated to dedicate this intelligence to many tasks which he is doing.
Today in the United States of America, in the corporate sector, there is an increasing demand for motivational trainers and psychological counselors. Employees and employers need daily motivation to keep them going and help them increase the productivity and quality of their work.
By Richard Romando
The success stories of many millionaires, like advertising godfather David Ogilvy and the famous American industrialist Lee Iacocca is the witness to the fact that had they not got inspiration and motivation in their daily lives they would have not have ascended the stairs of success.
There are various sociobiological theories of motivation which say that humans have four basic needs. The first one is the ability to register the images of the objects and experiences, the second one is the strong bond of long-term relationships based on love, care and commitment, the third one involves a higher understanding to learn about the things happening around us, and the fourth one is the climax of highly evolved personalities who know when to defend themselves and their loved ones from any kind of mental or emotional harm. These theories strongly advocate that for continuous personality development, these basic needs have to be fulfilled.
The concept of emotional intelligence, popularized by the famous author Daniel Goleman, suggests that a person may be highly intelligent yet unmotivated to dedicate this intelligence to many tasks which he is doing.
Today in the United States of America, in the corporate sector, there is an increasing demand for motivational trainers and psychological counselors. Employees and employers need daily motivation to keep them going and help them increase the productivity and quality of their work.
By Richard Romando
Monday, July 31, 2006
motivation : 4 Powerful Ways To Fire Up Your Motivation
It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to fail, isn't
it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call
it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all
the hard work you've done?
Hold your horses!
Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary
and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience.
The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.
But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and
most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation
to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.
1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End
How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course
you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let
this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist
despite all odds.
When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique
to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling
me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to
me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better
chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great
perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate
goal.
2) The Reward System
How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no
prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?
The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after
accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every
objective.
Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat
yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished
a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.
Got the idea?
Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing
a certain undertaking.
3) The Powerful Force of Humanity
If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right
kind of people who will support and encourage you all the
way.
Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as
yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of
collective energy from people of "like minds."
On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of
thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of
motivation.
Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere"
or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"
Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to
them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.
When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are
against you swallow their words. But of course, your main
focus should be on the acccomplishment of your goal and not
for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward
others alter your main objective.
4) Take Care Of Your Health
Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to
allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.
Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power
to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but
you should still know your limits.
If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think
clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly.
In the process, you will just get more frustrated.
Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's
work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson
when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've
worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep.
As a result, I became ill.
It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have
good health to enjoy it.
Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!
Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and help you attain all the desired freedom and power you could ever dream of. Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com now and grab a sample chapter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee
it? Are there times in your life when you really want to call
it "quits" because you just can't see any good results from all
the hard work you've done?
Hold your horses!
Never ever think of giving up. Winners never quit and quitters
never win. Take all negative words out of your mental dictionary
and focus on the solutions with utmost conviction and patience.
The battle is never lost until you've abandon your vision.
But what if you're really exhausted physically, mentally, and
most of all emotionally? Here are some sources of motivation
to prompt you in reaching the peak of accomplishment.
1) The Overwhelming Feeling of Attaining your Desired End
How would you feel after accomplishing your mission? Of course
you will feel ecstatic. You might be shedding tears of joy. Let
this tremendous feeling sink in and encourage you to persist
despite all odds.
When I was studying for the Board Exams, I used this technique
to motivate me. I would envision the sweetness of folks calling
me a CPA. It would command respect. People will look up to
me as a higher level of authority. And I would have better
chances of finding a good job. I absorbed all these great
perceptions into my inner being in order to achieve my ultimate
goal.
2) The Reward System
How would you feel if you've entered a contest, but there are no
prizes for the winners? It's not very encouraging, isn't it?
The same principles apply to your vision. Reward yourself after
accomplishing a goal. Set a particular incentive for every
objective.
Let's say if you've achieved a particular task, you'll treat
yourself to your favorite restaurant. When you've finished
a bigger task, you'll go on a vacation.
Got the idea?
Just set something gratifying to indulge in after completing
a certain undertaking.
3) The Powerful Force of Humanity
If you want to succeed, surround yourself with the right
kind of people who will support and encourage you all the
way.
Be with people who have the same beliefs and aspirations as
yours. Positive aura is generated by this fusion of
collective energy from people of "like minds."
On the contrary, being with people who oppose your ways of
thinking may trigger a negative, yet very powerful, kind of
motivation.
Has anyone ever said to you that "You'll never get anywhere"
or "You're wasting your time with what you're doing?"
Didn't it made you furious and determined enough to prove to
them how wrong they were? This is what I'm talking about.
When aggravated, you will do anything to make those who are
against you swallow their words. But of course, your main
focus should be on the acccomplishment of your goal and not
for the purpose of revenge. Never let your emotions toward
others alter your main objective.
4) Take Care Of Your Health
Exercise regularly. Fill your brains with enough oxygen to
allow you to do your daily tasks with more vigor and energy.
Take regular breaks if time allows. Having the will power
to continue despite all hardships is extremely important, but
you should still know your limits.
If you don't take enough rest, you will not be able to think
clearly and you will not be able to do your tasks properly.
In the process, you will just get more frustrated.
Take sufficient sleep and recharge yourself after a hard day's
work. Never, ever ignore your health. I've learned my lesson
when I sacrificed my health for the sake of success. I've
worked very long hours everyday and just got minimal sleep.
As a result, I became ill.
It's not worth it. Success won't matter if you don't have
good health to enjoy it.
Fire up your motivation and live life to the fullest!
Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and help you attain all the desired freedom and power you could ever dream of. Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com now and grab a sample chapter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee
motivation : Boosting Motivation to Exercise
Getting into a routine of regular exercise isn’t easy. In fact, it can be one of the hardest everyday things in the world to do. The second hardest thing to do is stick to it. We get bored, we get distracted, we get injured, or busy, or sick, or maybe everything’s just too GOOD for us to think about exercise right now.
Fortunately, there are a ton of loud, bossy opinions out there telling us how to get motivated, and stay motivated. Are any of them the golden key to looking like a movie star and living to be 100? Only time can tell. For now, just have a look over the list of things that have worked for other people, and see if you can’t find an idea or two to kick you in the bum:
For starters, find something you love to do. There are endless options when it comes to ways to work out. If you play well with others, join a team. If you want to learn an amazing new skill and get your Zen on, try picking up an art like Karate, Tai Chi, or yoga. Or if you tend to get bored easily, get into outdoor fitness adventures, like hiking, cycling, or climbing.
Pick a good time of day for yourself. If the idea of jumping out of bed in the morning and rushing to the gym makes you want to hide your head in the sand, don’t plan on working out first thing in the morning. Maybe someday you’ll be a morning person, but it’s not today, and developing one challenging new habit at a time is enough.
Make sure you’re doing something convenient, such as taking classes at a gym or studio on the way to or from work. If it’s a pain to get to, you’re not going to do it, so put a treadmill in front of the TV, jog at a nearby park, or throw away your car keys and put your bike in the driveway.
Try new things. The more variety you have in physical activity, the healthier you’ll be. This is because different exercises work out different joints, muscle groups, and organs, which ensures total body fitness. Try a fun new sport, discipline, or exercise every week.
Eliminate opportunities for excuses. Another great thing about doing a variety of activities is that you can switch up between two. Maybe you like to run but today, it’s cold and rainy. Goodbye motivation! On days like this, it’s good to have a weight routine or yoga set to do at home.
Seriously, no excuses! Always keep in mind that every little bit helps. If you miss one day, there’s no reason to throw the whole week out the window. Even five minutes here and there throughout your day is better than nothing.
Remember that fitness happens from the inside out. Many people quit because they don’t see results, but the truth is that all the most important results are invisible. Before you get thin and buff, your organs will be cleansed of fat and toxins, your joints will become supple, and your muscles and immune system will strengthen. Keep in mind that although you can’t see it, an amazing transformation is happening.
Reward your body, not your brain. A reward for getting fit should not be eating a pie or lying around like a slug. Treat yourself to a real body luxury, like a massage, a sauna, a round of golf, or an active day on the slopes or at the beach. This way, you get a long, rich reward with great memories attached to it, as opposed to post-consumption guilt or lazy-day ennui.
Do activities with your friends. Sign up for a yoga class with your best mate or partner. You can motivate each other to go, and push each other to do well. After all, there’s nothing like good old-fashioned social pressure when it comes to doing things you’d rather not.
By applying a magical combination of the above suggestions, every physical activity you do will become an unmitigated delight...just kidding. The truth is that some days will always be hard, but if done properly, working out becomes its own motivation. At first it can be torture, but eventually, it becomes deeply rewarding and satisfying, leaving you feeling energized and content. Motivating factors come and go, but the guarantee that regular exercise can offer you is that one day you will lift your head up from the sweat and sore muscles and realize that you feel better, and look better, than you ever believed possible.
Wayne Mcgregor has written hundreds of articles on effective ways to lose weight. His website provides tons of free weight loss information and help.
http://www.weightlossforall.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Mcgregor
Fortunately, there are a ton of loud, bossy opinions out there telling us how to get motivated, and stay motivated. Are any of them the golden key to looking like a movie star and living to be 100? Only time can tell. For now, just have a look over the list of things that have worked for other people, and see if you can’t find an idea or two to kick you in the bum:
For starters, find something you love to do. There are endless options when it comes to ways to work out. If you play well with others, join a team. If you want to learn an amazing new skill and get your Zen on, try picking up an art like Karate, Tai Chi, or yoga. Or if you tend to get bored easily, get into outdoor fitness adventures, like hiking, cycling, or climbing.
Pick a good time of day for yourself. If the idea of jumping out of bed in the morning and rushing to the gym makes you want to hide your head in the sand, don’t plan on working out first thing in the morning. Maybe someday you’ll be a morning person, but it’s not today, and developing one challenging new habit at a time is enough.
Make sure you’re doing something convenient, such as taking classes at a gym or studio on the way to or from work. If it’s a pain to get to, you’re not going to do it, so put a treadmill in front of the TV, jog at a nearby park, or throw away your car keys and put your bike in the driveway.
Try new things. The more variety you have in physical activity, the healthier you’ll be. This is because different exercises work out different joints, muscle groups, and organs, which ensures total body fitness. Try a fun new sport, discipline, or exercise every week.
Eliminate opportunities for excuses. Another great thing about doing a variety of activities is that you can switch up between two. Maybe you like to run but today, it’s cold and rainy. Goodbye motivation! On days like this, it’s good to have a weight routine or yoga set to do at home.
Seriously, no excuses! Always keep in mind that every little bit helps. If you miss one day, there’s no reason to throw the whole week out the window. Even five minutes here and there throughout your day is better than nothing.
Remember that fitness happens from the inside out. Many people quit because they don’t see results, but the truth is that all the most important results are invisible. Before you get thin and buff, your organs will be cleansed of fat and toxins, your joints will become supple, and your muscles and immune system will strengthen. Keep in mind that although you can’t see it, an amazing transformation is happening.
Reward your body, not your brain. A reward for getting fit should not be eating a pie or lying around like a slug. Treat yourself to a real body luxury, like a massage, a sauna, a round of golf, or an active day on the slopes or at the beach. This way, you get a long, rich reward with great memories attached to it, as opposed to post-consumption guilt or lazy-day ennui.
Do activities with your friends. Sign up for a yoga class with your best mate or partner. You can motivate each other to go, and push each other to do well. After all, there’s nothing like good old-fashioned social pressure when it comes to doing things you’d rather not.
By applying a magical combination of the above suggestions, every physical activity you do will become an unmitigated delight...just kidding. The truth is that some days will always be hard, but if done properly, working out becomes its own motivation. At first it can be torture, but eventually, it becomes deeply rewarding and satisfying, leaving you feeling energized and content. Motivating factors come and go, but the guarantee that regular exercise can offer you is that one day you will lift your head up from the sweat and sore muscles and realize that you feel better, and look better, than you ever believed possible.
Wayne Mcgregor has written hundreds of articles on effective ways to lose weight. His website provides tons of free weight loss information and help.
http://www.weightlossforall.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Mcgregor
Thursday, July 27, 2006
motivation : The Easy Way To Lasting Self Motivation
Will power alone will never work over the long term. It is the hardest way possible to get yourself to do anything.
The answer is to discover the secrets of self motivation.
Why?
Because it is like trying to open a tin can with your teeth when there is a can opener in your pocket.
Instead you need to tap into the limitless power of your mind. When you do you can break bad habits, create beneficial new ones and put yourself back on track easily, quickly and with very little effort.
You see...
Making changes to enhance the quality of your life does not need to be slow or difficult. Unfortunately most people are still struggling because they continue to rely on ineffective approaches like will power.
Forget about will power. Become a self motivation expert!
Instead write down one small action you have been putting off and answer the following questions and really put some thought into the answers:
1 What am I missing out on of importance by not doing this?
2 What will I gain most by doing this?
3 Why is it important to me to get this done?
4 How is not doing this inconsistent with who I really am?
And then...
Pretend You Have Already Completed the Task:
Get a pen and paper and take 5 minutes to describe how you feel now that you have already finished the task you have been postponing. i.e. as if you have already succeeded.
e.g. I have already cleaned the yard and I feel fantastic. My family and friends are really impressed and I feel so proud of myself and so delighted that it is finally done.
The yard looks immaculate, so tidy I have even impressed myself. I feel so powerful, energetic and motivated. I feel on top of the world. etc. etc.
Do this quickly and write with as much emotion as you can express. Spend at least 5 minutes on it.
You will be surprised at how well this simple process works.
You may find that you feel a boost in motivation that gets even better each time you use this process. Do it once a day for best results.
Become your own self motivation expert.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report, the 5 Step Motivation Report. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Murphy
The answer is to discover the secrets of self motivation.
Why?
Because it is like trying to open a tin can with your teeth when there is a can opener in your pocket.
Instead you need to tap into the limitless power of your mind. When you do you can break bad habits, create beneficial new ones and put yourself back on track easily, quickly and with very little effort.
You see...
Making changes to enhance the quality of your life does not need to be slow or difficult. Unfortunately most people are still struggling because they continue to rely on ineffective approaches like will power.
Forget about will power. Become a self motivation expert!
Instead write down one small action you have been putting off and answer the following questions and really put some thought into the answers:
1 What am I missing out on of importance by not doing this?
2 What will I gain most by doing this?
3 Why is it important to me to get this done?
4 How is not doing this inconsistent with who I really am?
And then...
Pretend You Have Already Completed the Task:
Get a pen and paper and take 5 minutes to describe how you feel now that you have already finished the task you have been postponing. i.e. as if you have already succeeded.
e.g. I have already cleaned the yard and I feel fantastic. My family and friends are really impressed and I feel so proud of myself and so delighted that it is finally done.
The yard looks immaculate, so tidy I have even impressed myself. I feel so powerful, energetic and motivated. I feel on top of the world. etc. etc.
Do this quickly and write with as much emotion as you can express. Spend at least 5 minutes on it.
You will be surprised at how well this simple process works.
You may find that you feel a boost in motivation that gets even better each time you use this process. Do it once a day for best results.
Become your own self motivation expert.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report, the 5 Step Motivation Report. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Murphy
motivation : Motivation by Listening
Listening skills are a very powerful motivation factor.
Hardly any people are actually good at listening, being more interested in what they are going to say next. When you think about how many people you have met who can remember your name or what you said, you'll find it is very few indeed. That generally seems to be the norm so when you do meet people who you think are good listeners, your feelings towards these particular people are usually more positive.
By that I mean you likely would place more trust and confidence in them. So because most of us find it very hard to listen, we are surprised by somebody who does listen and we tend to endow them with greater capabilities than they may possess.
This is the secret of motivation by listening. If we can learn to listen well, the people we listen to will be motivated and inspired by our attention.
Most salespeople consider themselves to be good talkers instead of listeners. You hear people saying: "He is a born salesman, he's got the gift of the gab". Many people believe that the speaker holds the power and that the listener is meek or docile. Actually you will find that the good listener has much more power in any conversation. The listener is able to gather more information than the talker and armed with information can then produce the desired result.
When two people are conversing, the one who really dominates the conversation is the person who is asking questions and listening carefully to the answers. When we want to motivate somebody to give their best effort, or to follow our direction, we will do so more effectively by listening to their responses to the situation.
Therefore the real job of the salesman is to listen carefully to his customers and understand their needs and concerns. Although they might ask you a few questions first, most successful salespeople will agree with this.
So what steps should you follow to create motivation by listening?
1. Repeat or rephrase so you can clarify the information given
2. Give useful information in return.
3. Listen for the emotions. Selling especially is often based on emotional factors more that objective facts.
4. Look people in the eye and make some reassuring gestures or tones to encourage the speaker.
5. Be careful not to distract the speaker - give them your full attention while they are talking.
6. Show that the discussion is important to you too.
Listening is an essential skill for making and keeping relationships. When you are acknowledged as a good listener people confide in you and trust you; as a manager of people or as a salesperson this is your route to success.
Peter Fisher is one of the UK's leading career coaches. He is also the MD of Career Consulting Limited and is committed to your career success. He has written 100's of articles to magazine, journals and websites. Visit Your Motivation to know more about how you can build your own and other's motivation by listening and other means.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Fisher
Hardly any people are actually good at listening, being more interested in what they are going to say next. When you think about how many people you have met who can remember your name or what you said, you'll find it is very few indeed. That generally seems to be the norm so when you do meet people who you think are good listeners, your feelings towards these particular people are usually more positive.
By that I mean you likely would place more trust and confidence in them. So because most of us find it very hard to listen, we are surprised by somebody who does listen and we tend to endow them with greater capabilities than they may possess.
This is the secret of motivation by listening. If we can learn to listen well, the people we listen to will be motivated and inspired by our attention.
Most salespeople consider themselves to be good talkers instead of listeners. You hear people saying: "He is a born salesman, he's got the gift of the gab". Many people believe that the speaker holds the power and that the listener is meek or docile. Actually you will find that the good listener has much more power in any conversation. The listener is able to gather more information than the talker and armed with information can then produce the desired result.
When two people are conversing, the one who really dominates the conversation is the person who is asking questions and listening carefully to the answers. When we want to motivate somebody to give their best effort, or to follow our direction, we will do so more effectively by listening to their responses to the situation.
Therefore the real job of the salesman is to listen carefully to his customers and understand their needs and concerns. Although they might ask you a few questions first, most successful salespeople will agree with this.
So what steps should you follow to create motivation by listening?
1. Repeat or rephrase so you can clarify the information given
2. Give useful information in return.
3. Listen for the emotions. Selling especially is often based on emotional factors more that objective facts.
4. Look people in the eye and make some reassuring gestures or tones to encourage the speaker.
5. Be careful not to distract the speaker - give them your full attention while they are talking.
6. Show that the discussion is important to you too.
Listening is an essential skill for making and keeping relationships. When you are acknowledged as a good listener people confide in you and trust you; as a manager of people or as a salesperson this is your route to success.
Peter Fisher is one of the UK's leading career coaches. He is also the MD of Career Consulting Limited and is committed to your career success. He has written 100's of articles to magazine, journals and websites. Visit Your Motivation to know more about how you can build your own and other's motivation by listening and other means.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Fisher
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
motivation : Hypnotherapy for Motivation
Motivation is the key to positivity in our lives. If we were not motivated enough, we would just not have the will in us to go about our daily lives. Its motivation that helps us get through the most mundane things – motivation for working harder, motivation to have a healthy relationship, motivation to earn more, motivation to have a happy family. And yet sometimes we find ourselves lacking in motivation; I think we have all had days when getting out of bed to get ready to go to work seemed like a Herculean task. Sometimes lack of motivation can really bring people down, and hinder their efficiency and ability. This may lead to frustrations and further breakdown of communication between people. However, if you intercept this lack of motivation timely, you have help at hand. Go for hypnotherapy for motivation to get the zest in life back.
Hypnotherapy is intrinsically related to the concept of motivation, and can help you in every walk of life. From motivation in sports, to business; from quitting smoking to losing weight, hypnotherapy for motivation could help you out. But here’s the catch: you can think of successfully motivating yourself only once you have your goals identified. Identification of a goal is very necessary before you start motivating yourself. Motivation is all about helping you realize your true potential, sometimes this potential gets thwarted by certain experiences in our lives. Hypnotherapy for motivation works towards removing those mental blockages by connecting with your subconscious.
Hypnotherapy is based on the formula of auto suggestion, and it works on deeper levels than one can imagine. Hypnotherapy for motivation converses with your subconscious mind, and urges it to alter self-perception and self – image. Unknown to us, our subconscious is largely responsible for the way we think and react; if we train it to think on a different line, no doubt the accompanying behavior would change too. It understands the true potential that lies within us, and taps into it. Through gentle affirmations such as “I can do it”, it retrains your mind into believing that nothing is impossible.
In my practice at Oxfordshire, I have helped clients deal with a variety of issues through hypnotherapy for motivation. Some wanted to perform better at work, while others needed motivation to keep a relationship going. Some wanted to perform better at sports, while others at studies. The underlying theory of hypnotherapy is based on motivation, and we need it in every walk of life. However, we need to have our goals clear in our minds for the hypnotherapy to be successful. Hypnotherapy for motivation lets you focus on the particular task at hand, however if the task is undefined, hypnotherapy will be rendered ineffective.
Hypnotherapy for motivation can seem to be too simple a solution for these problems; however you will be surprised at their effectiveness. Once you started this journey of self discovery, you will see the changes in a short time. Through altering self-perception and self-image, hypnotherapy gives you a whole new view of the world. From being a procrastinating person, you can go on to become a self starter. So define your goals now, and dive into the vast sea of your subconscious mind through hypnotherapy. The pearls you will find there will take care of every situation and possibility in life. Happy Self Discovery!
Richard MacKenzie is a name that has become synonymous with Hypnotherapy for Motivation, check out his site and his range of Hypnosis Downloads
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_MacKenzie
Hypnotherapy is intrinsically related to the concept of motivation, and can help you in every walk of life. From motivation in sports, to business; from quitting smoking to losing weight, hypnotherapy for motivation could help you out. But here’s the catch: you can think of successfully motivating yourself only once you have your goals identified. Identification of a goal is very necessary before you start motivating yourself. Motivation is all about helping you realize your true potential, sometimes this potential gets thwarted by certain experiences in our lives. Hypnotherapy for motivation works towards removing those mental blockages by connecting with your subconscious.
Hypnotherapy is based on the formula of auto suggestion, and it works on deeper levels than one can imagine. Hypnotherapy for motivation converses with your subconscious mind, and urges it to alter self-perception and self – image. Unknown to us, our subconscious is largely responsible for the way we think and react; if we train it to think on a different line, no doubt the accompanying behavior would change too. It understands the true potential that lies within us, and taps into it. Through gentle affirmations such as “I can do it”, it retrains your mind into believing that nothing is impossible.
In my practice at Oxfordshire, I have helped clients deal with a variety of issues through hypnotherapy for motivation. Some wanted to perform better at work, while others needed motivation to keep a relationship going. Some wanted to perform better at sports, while others at studies. The underlying theory of hypnotherapy is based on motivation, and we need it in every walk of life. However, we need to have our goals clear in our minds for the hypnotherapy to be successful. Hypnotherapy for motivation lets you focus on the particular task at hand, however if the task is undefined, hypnotherapy will be rendered ineffective.
Hypnotherapy for motivation can seem to be too simple a solution for these problems; however you will be surprised at their effectiveness. Once you started this journey of self discovery, you will see the changes in a short time. Through altering self-perception and self-image, hypnotherapy gives you a whole new view of the world. From being a procrastinating person, you can go on to become a self starter. So define your goals now, and dive into the vast sea of your subconscious mind through hypnotherapy. The pearls you will find there will take care of every situation and possibility in life. Happy Self Discovery!
Richard MacKenzie is a name that has become synonymous with Hypnotherapy for Motivation, check out his site and his range of Hypnosis Downloads
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_MacKenzie
motivation : What You Need To Know About Motivation
Be it a playground or a company, the formula for success is the same everywhere: motivation. Motivation inspires the amount of effort one puts in his work. It is said that hard work breeds confidence and confidence breeds success, but in all three stages motivation is the driving force. An important motivator for a person in any profession is interest and the desire to learn. One gets success when interest and the desire to learn are linked together.
Psychologists call motivation as a very positive emotion. The famous writer Daniel Goleman, in his book 'Emotional Intelligence', has mentioned the chemical secretions in the brain leading to the positive elevated feelings which help an individual to follow his goals.
Maslow, the great psychoanalyst, has unfolded many secrets of the thought process of motivation. His theory says that to achieve the perfect mature state of motivation one has to pass through two important stages: self-actualization and self-transcendence. In the initial state of self-actualization one achieves the sense of self-fulfillment and realizes his potential. In the second state of self-transcendence one succeeds in going beyond his individual ego and thereby achieves a permanently motivated state of mind.
The 'Challenge' factor also plays a vital role in arousing the feelings of motivation in most people. Many people get motivated by the thought of doing something which they think they can't do. Plunging into the unknown is a purely human tendency, and human history witnesses that the most successful people achieved their desired objectives by taking risks and relying completely on their natural sense of strong motivation. Therefore, it has been universally recognized that the sense of motivation is most important in getting success.
Motivation provides detailed information on Motivation, Daily Motivation, Employee Motivation, Motivation Posters and more. Motivation is affiliated with Christian Motivational Speakers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando
Psychologists call motivation as a very positive emotion. The famous writer Daniel Goleman, in his book 'Emotional Intelligence', has mentioned the chemical secretions in the brain leading to the positive elevated feelings which help an individual to follow his goals.
Maslow, the great psychoanalyst, has unfolded many secrets of the thought process of motivation. His theory says that to achieve the perfect mature state of motivation one has to pass through two important stages: self-actualization and self-transcendence. In the initial state of self-actualization one achieves the sense of self-fulfillment and realizes his potential. In the second state of self-transcendence one succeeds in going beyond his individual ego and thereby achieves a permanently motivated state of mind.
The 'Challenge' factor also plays a vital role in arousing the feelings of motivation in most people. Many people get motivated by the thought of doing something which they think they can't do. Plunging into the unknown is a purely human tendency, and human history witnesses that the most successful people achieved their desired objectives by taking risks and relying completely on their natural sense of strong motivation. Therefore, it has been universally recognized that the sense of motivation is most important in getting success.
Motivation provides detailed information on Motivation, Daily Motivation, Employee Motivation, Motivation Posters and more. Motivation is affiliated with Christian Motivational Speakers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando
Friday, July 21, 2006
motivation : Reticular activating system
The reticular activating system is the name given to part of the brain (the reticular formation and its connections) believed to be the centre of arousal and motivation in animals (including humans). It is situated at the core of the brain stem between the myelencephalon (medulla oblongata) and metencephalon (midbrain).
It is involved with the circadian rhythm; damage can lead to permanent coma. It is thought to be the area affected by many psychotropic drugs. General anaesthetics work through their effect on the reticular formation.
Fibers from the reticular formation are also vital in controlling respiration, cardiac rhythms, and other essential functions.
The reticular activating system has received attention from neuroscientists interested in various pathological conditions affecting behaviour, such as Alzheimer's Disease. More recently, results of research on the area has prompted extrapolations from the data into various areas such as motivational programmes (for example, Getting Things Done) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reticular activating system is believed to cause ADD and ADHD due to the unbalance in norepinephrine in the cells. This leads to the over arousal and unmotivation associated with these disorders. However, despite the rapid recent increase in knowledge of the structure and function of the brain, assumptions about brain function related to real world events made without specific evidence should be treated with immense caution.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is involved with the circadian rhythm; damage can lead to permanent coma. It is thought to be the area affected by many psychotropic drugs. General anaesthetics work through their effect on the reticular formation.
Fibers from the reticular formation are also vital in controlling respiration, cardiac rhythms, and other essential functions.
The reticular activating system has received attention from neuroscientists interested in various pathological conditions affecting behaviour, such as Alzheimer's Disease. More recently, results of research on the area has prompted extrapolations from the data into various areas such as motivational programmes (for example, Getting Things Done) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reticular activating system is believed to cause ADD and ADHD due to the unbalance in norepinephrine in the cells. This leads to the over arousal and unmotivation associated with these disorders. However, despite the rapid recent increase in knowledge of the structure and function of the brain, assumptions about brain function related to real world events made without specific evidence should be treated with immense caution.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
motivation : Clark Leonard Hull
1884-1952) was an influential American psychologist and behaviorist who sought to explain learning and motivation by scientific laws of behavior. Born in Akron, New York, Hull obtained bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, and in 1918 a PhD in experimental psychology from the University of Wisconsin. His doctoral research on "Quantitative Aspects of the Evolution of Concepts" was published in Psychological Monographs.
Hull conducted research demonstrating that his theories could predict and control behavior. His most significant works were the Mathematico-Deductive Theory of Rote Learning (1940), and Principles of Behavior (1943), which established his analysis of animal learning and conditioning as the dominant learning theory of its time. Hull is known for his debates with Edward C. Tolman.
In experimental psychology, he created the "hypothetic-deductive" systematic method, after the observation and elaboration of hypotheses. This method brought him precise definitions and conceptualised axioms which helped him develop his theories. He believed that behavior was a set of interactions between an individual and their environment. He analysed behavior from a perspect of biological adaptation, which is an optimization of living conditions through need reduction.
Hull is often credited with having begun the modern study of hypnosis. His work Hypnosis and Suggestibility (1933) was a rigorous study of the phenomenon, using statistical and experimental analysis. Hull's studies emphatically demonstrated once and for all that hypnosis had no connection with sleep ("hypnosis is not sleep, … it has no special relationship to sleep, and the whole concept of sleep when applied to hypnosis obscures the situation"). The main result of Hull's study was to rein in the extravagant claims of hypnotists, especially regarding extraordinary improvements in cognition or the senses under hypnosis. Hull's experiments did show the reality of some classical phenomena such as hypnotic anaesthesia and post-hypnotic amnesia. Hypnosis could also induce moderate increases in certain physical capacities and change the threshold of sensory stimulation; attenuation effects could be especially dramatic.
He died on May 10, 1952, in New Haven, Connecticut.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hull conducted research demonstrating that his theories could predict and control behavior. His most significant works were the Mathematico-Deductive Theory of Rote Learning (1940), and Principles of Behavior (1943), which established his analysis of animal learning and conditioning as the dominant learning theory of its time. Hull is known for his debates with Edward C. Tolman.
In experimental psychology, he created the "hypothetic-deductive" systematic method, after the observation and elaboration of hypotheses. This method brought him precise definitions and conceptualised axioms which helped him develop his theories. He believed that behavior was a set of interactions between an individual and their environment. He analysed behavior from a perspect of biological adaptation, which is an optimization of living conditions through need reduction.
Hull is often credited with having begun the modern study of hypnosis. His work Hypnosis and Suggestibility (1933) was a rigorous study of the phenomenon, using statistical and experimental analysis. Hull's studies emphatically demonstrated once and for all that hypnosis had no connection with sleep ("hypnosis is not sleep, … it has no special relationship to sleep, and the whole concept of sleep when applied to hypnosis obscures the situation"). The main result of Hull's study was to rein in the extravagant claims of hypnotists, especially regarding extraordinary improvements in cognition or the senses under hypnosis. Hull's experiments did show the reality of some classical phenomena such as hypnotic anaesthesia and post-hypnotic amnesia. Hypnosis could also induce moderate increases in certain physical capacities and change the threshold of sensory stimulation; attenuation effects could be especially dramatic.
He died on May 10, 1952, in New Haven, Connecticut.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, July 14, 2006
motivation : Strategies for Success with Distance Learning
distance learning has opened doors for many students, especially for those who cannot afford to pay for the high fees of full-time courses. Although online distance learning courses have many advantages over on-campus degree courses, many factors come into play in order to make this a success for students. Due to the differences in the way that education is being delivered and acquired, adjustments and changes in approaches need to be undertaken.
1. Selecting the right distance learning school
The first element for success is to choose the right distance learning school. There are many unscrupulous "degree mills" around in the market that are only keen to sell their degrees without providing good education and ample student support. As a result, the degrees offered by these institutions may not be recognized, or may sometimes even be regarded as bogus degrees. In order to prevent this, do the proper background check on the institution you are considering with the relevant authorities to verify on their accreditation and authenticity before registering.
2. Cost-benefit analysis
Some students enroll in an online distance learning course without doing a cost benefit analysis of taking the course in the first place. It is a known fact that obtaining an education requires a hefty sum of investment. However, this should be compared with the potential additional income that can be generated from the degree that is earned. Only then can the full rewards be reaped from gaining an online degree.
3. Degree positioning to employers
There have been many cases where employers were wary of the validity of online degrees. With so many online institutions selling degrees, it is justified for employers to exercise caution. Although a distance learning degree may be 100% legitimate, it would help if you provide adequate explanation on the accreditation of the degree in order to avoid misunderstanding. By stressing that the accreditation body which accredited your institution or your program is recognized by the US Department of education as well as CHEA, you can then eliminate any doubts that employers about the validity of your degree. You can read more information on why accreditation is important at http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com/college-accreditation.html.
4. Exercise discipline, determination and time management
In the actual course of study, many students lack discipline and focus and therefore are unable to keep up with online lessons and assignments. It is very important for distance learning students to have great determination to succeed, as it is very easy to get de-motivated and distracted when you are alone with no peers. Good time management along with communication with other students would make excellent measures for success.
5. Make full use of facilities provided
Many distance learning online courses offer online lectures and email correspondence to facilitate communication with lecturers, tutors and other students. These facilities should be utilized as much as possible as it provides a link back to the education institution. Furthermore, this would be a great source of motivation in order to keep progressing through the course of study.
6. Utilize credit transfers
Most distance learning institutions allow students to transfer their credits from other courses that they had taken from other universities or colleges. This way, students will not have to repeat what they have already learnt. In order to do this, it is important for distance learning students to obtain transcripts and results from their previous schools and send them to their distance learning online university to obtain credit transfers.
7. Good utilization of technology for education
The final element for distance learning success it the ability to make full use of the conveniences that technology has to offer. Many online universities provide students with online research resources that are valuable for completing assignments or producing research papers. The cost of facilities such as virtual libraries and online books has probably been factored into the fees paid and therefore it makes good sense to utilize these facilities to the fullest.
by Rose Musyoka
1. Selecting the right distance learning school
The first element for success is to choose the right distance learning school. There are many unscrupulous "degree mills" around in the market that are only keen to sell their degrees without providing good education and ample student support. As a result, the degrees offered by these institutions may not be recognized, or may sometimes even be regarded as bogus degrees. In order to prevent this, do the proper background check on the institution you are considering with the relevant authorities to verify on their accreditation and authenticity before registering.
2. Cost-benefit analysis
Some students enroll in an online distance learning course without doing a cost benefit analysis of taking the course in the first place. It is a known fact that obtaining an education requires a hefty sum of investment. However, this should be compared with the potential additional income that can be generated from the degree that is earned. Only then can the full rewards be reaped from gaining an online degree.
3. Degree positioning to employers
There have been many cases where employers were wary of the validity of online degrees. With so many online institutions selling degrees, it is justified for employers to exercise caution. Although a distance learning degree may be 100% legitimate, it would help if you provide adequate explanation on the accreditation of the degree in order to avoid misunderstanding. By stressing that the accreditation body which accredited your institution or your program is recognized by the US Department of education as well as CHEA, you can then eliminate any doubts that employers about the validity of your degree. You can read more information on why accreditation is important at http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com/college-accreditation.html.
4. Exercise discipline, determination and time management
In the actual course of study, many students lack discipline and focus and therefore are unable to keep up with online lessons and assignments. It is very important for distance learning students to have great determination to succeed, as it is very easy to get de-motivated and distracted when you are alone with no peers. Good time management along with communication with other students would make excellent measures for success.
5. Make full use of facilities provided
Many distance learning online courses offer online lectures and email correspondence to facilitate communication with lecturers, tutors and other students. These facilities should be utilized as much as possible as it provides a link back to the education institution. Furthermore, this would be a great source of motivation in order to keep progressing through the course of study.
6. Utilize credit transfers
Most distance learning institutions allow students to transfer their credits from other courses that they had taken from other universities or colleges. This way, students will not have to repeat what they have already learnt. In order to do this, it is important for distance learning students to obtain transcripts and results from their previous schools and send them to their distance learning online university to obtain credit transfers.
7. Good utilization of technology for education
The final element for distance learning success it the ability to make full use of the conveniences that technology has to offer. Many online universities provide students with online research resources that are valuable for completing assignments or producing research papers. The cost of facilities such as virtual libraries and online books has probably been factored into the fees paid and therefore it makes good sense to utilize these facilities to the fullest.
by Rose Musyoka
motivation : 7 Steps To Hire The Best
You can use this step-by-step method to hire applicants who are likely to be "superstar" employees:
highly productive
low-turnover
Important: Focus on hiring applicants you rate positively on all seven prediction methods.
1st Prediction Method = Brief Initial Screening Interview
If an applicant's application looks suitable, then conduct BISI, a customized 15-30 minute over-phone or in-person interview. BISI quickly reveals if an applicant has biographical data similar to your company's "superstar" employees.
For example, at one company, we discovered "superstar" Sales Reps had many similarities before working for this company:
Work: (a) 1 or 2 previous sales jobs, (b) only 1 or 2 jobs before applying at the company, and (c) kept prior jobs 2 – 5 years
Education: (a) earned B.A. from state universities, (b) majored in business or liberal arts, (c) worked part-time throughout college, and (d) college jobs entailed a lot of people contact
Pay: Earned less than likely first year compensation at this company
Vocal Style: Exuded high energy
So, this company's BISI screened-in applicants with similar work, education, pay, and vocal style – and screened-out other applicants.
2nd Prediction Method = Customized Pre-employment Tests
If the applicant did well on 1st Prediction Method – BISI, then you can have applicant take customized pre-employment tests. Use tests specifically designed to screen applicants and predict:
Work Behavior – e.g., interpersonal skills, personality, and motivations
Mental Abilities – e.g., problem-solving, vocabulary, math, grammar, and small detail abilities
Importantly, the test must use customized "benchmark scores" based on scores of your "superstar" employees. With customized "benchmark scores," you quickly see if an applicant scored similar to your company's "superstar" employees.
3rd Prediction Method = In-Depth Interview Using Customized
Interview Guide Form
If you decide the applicant did fine on 1st and 2nd Prediction Methods, then you may conduct an In-Depth Interview. Crucial: Create a customized Interview Guide document for each job, including (a) 6 – 9 key "make-or-brake" job talents, (b) questions to ask, (b) note-taking, and (c) ratings.
Importantly, you must provide seminar training to teach managers how to use your customized Interview Guides to assess applicants. Without superb training, interviewers fail to hire the best.
4th Prediction Method = Role-Play
If the applicant did well on 3rd Prediction Method, then have applicant do Role-Play immediately after In-Depth Interview. The 15 – 30 minute role-play lets you see if the applicant has critical job skills. For example, have a Sales Rep applicant role-play selling. Then, assess the applicant using a customized Role-Play Rating Checklist.
5th Prediction Method = Realistic Job Preview
If you decide applicant did well on 1st – 4th Prediction Methods, then do Realistic Job Preview: For RJP, the applicant spends ½ - 1 day watching an employee doing the job. Benefit: Applicants who received RJP are less likely to (a) accept job offer – but, if they accept, (b) turnover. Reason: The RJP assures they know what they are getting themselves into!
6th Prediction Method = 1 Executive Must Approve All Hiring
If the applicant did well on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods, then one executive at your company reviews Applicant Rating Summary Form. Your company's quick Applicant Summary Rating Form
summarizes ratings – positive, average, or negative – on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods
"forces" managers to actually use your structured hiring steps
Important: If the applicant's ratings on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods include
+ all positive ratings, then executive may approve hiring applicant
- average or negative ratings, then the executive may not allow applicant to be hired
7th Prediction Method = Reference Checks
If your company decides the applicant did well on 1st – 6th Prediction Methods – plus accepts job offer – then you conduct Reference Checks. If they prove
+ positive, then your company keeps applicant as an employee
- negative, then you take appropriate action
How Much Time Do You Need to hire the Best?
Many managers moan they are time-crunched, and ask how much time these seven steps require. Two answers:
If an applicant does well on 1st – 7th Prediction Methods, then you invested 2 – 3 hours to hire the best
Ask yourself: How much time – and money – did you waste when you hired average or below-average applicants? You wasted many hours – plus salary, benefits and low productivity – because you failed to invest only 2 – 3 hours to hire the best!
© Copyright 2005 michael Mercer, Ph.D.
highly productive
low-turnover
Important: Focus on hiring applicants you rate positively on all seven prediction methods.
1st Prediction Method = Brief Initial Screening Interview
If an applicant's application looks suitable, then conduct BISI, a customized 15-30 minute over-phone or in-person interview. BISI quickly reveals if an applicant has biographical data similar to your company's "superstar" employees.
For example, at one company, we discovered "superstar" Sales Reps had many similarities before working for this company:
Work: (a) 1 or 2 previous sales jobs, (b) only 1 or 2 jobs before applying at the company, and (c) kept prior jobs 2 – 5 years
Education: (a) earned B.A. from state universities, (b) majored in business or liberal arts, (c) worked part-time throughout college, and (d) college jobs entailed a lot of people contact
Pay: Earned less than likely first year compensation at this company
Vocal Style: Exuded high energy
So, this company's BISI screened-in applicants with similar work, education, pay, and vocal style – and screened-out other applicants.
2nd Prediction Method = Customized Pre-employment Tests
If the applicant did well on 1st Prediction Method – BISI, then you can have applicant take customized pre-employment tests. Use tests specifically designed to screen applicants and predict:
Work Behavior – e.g., interpersonal skills, personality, and motivations
Mental Abilities – e.g., problem-solving, vocabulary, math, grammar, and small detail abilities
Importantly, the test must use customized "benchmark scores" based on scores of your "superstar" employees. With customized "benchmark scores," you quickly see if an applicant scored similar to your company's "superstar" employees.
3rd Prediction Method = In-Depth Interview Using Customized
Interview Guide Form
If you decide the applicant did fine on 1st and 2nd Prediction Methods, then you may conduct an In-Depth Interview. Crucial: Create a customized Interview Guide document for each job, including (a) 6 – 9 key "make-or-brake" job talents, (b) questions to ask, (b) note-taking, and (c) ratings.
Importantly, you must provide seminar training to teach managers how to use your customized Interview Guides to assess applicants. Without superb training, interviewers fail to hire the best.
4th Prediction Method = Role-Play
If the applicant did well on 3rd Prediction Method, then have applicant do Role-Play immediately after In-Depth Interview. The 15 – 30 minute role-play lets you see if the applicant has critical job skills. For example, have a Sales Rep applicant role-play selling. Then, assess the applicant using a customized Role-Play Rating Checklist.
5th Prediction Method = Realistic Job Preview
If you decide applicant did well on 1st – 4th Prediction Methods, then do Realistic Job Preview: For RJP, the applicant spends ½ - 1 day watching an employee doing the job. Benefit: Applicants who received RJP are less likely to (a) accept job offer – but, if they accept, (b) turnover. Reason: The RJP assures they know what they are getting themselves into!
6th Prediction Method = 1 Executive Must Approve All Hiring
If the applicant did well on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods, then one executive at your company reviews Applicant Rating Summary Form. Your company's quick Applicant Summary Rating Form
summarizes ratings – positive, average, or negative – on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods
"forces" managers to actually use your structured hiring steps
Important: If the applicant's ratings on 1st – 5th Prediction Methods include
+ all positive ratings, then executive may approve hiring applicant
- average or negative ratings, then the executive may not allow applicant to be hired
7th Prediction Method = Reference Checks
If your company decides the applicant did well on 1st – 6th Prediction Methods – plus accepts job offer – then you conduct Reference Checks. If they prove
+ positive, then your company keeps applicant as an employee
- negative, then you take appropriate action
How Much Time Do You Need to hire the Best?
Many managers moan they are time-crunched, and ask how much time these seven steps require. Two answers:
If an applicant does well on 1st – 7th Prediction Methods, then you invested 2 – 3 hours to hire the best
Ask yourself: How much time – and money – did you waste when you hired average or below-average applicants? You wasted many hours – plus salary, benefits and low productivity – because you failed to invest only 2 – 3 hours to hire the best!
© Copyright 2005 michael Mercer, Ph.D.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
motivation : 8 Ways To Motivate Your Team
It's the eternal conundrum, how do leaders get their teams to perform at higher levels and how do they maintain a level of high morale. It always amazes me how leaders point the finger at their people and talk about them as if they are the problem or an entity unto themselves responsible for all failings within the department. It is a brave leader who will look at themselves first and ask some very powerful yet disturbing questions such as:
What have I done in the past that worked?
What's going on with me right now and am I bringing enthusiasm to the workplace?
Am I being realistic in my expectations and have I communicated them to my team?
A team's performance is a direct reflection of the leader who leads them. Ouch!
Think about it….people within a team will only perform to the level that they see rewarded or to the level that their leader brings to the table.
In my training seminars to management leaders I often challenge them to look at how themselves their strengths, weaknesses and how they manage before they look at the problems that their people are challenging them with.
Many leaders are put into their positions with little or no training and they are doomed to fail. The assumption most employees make is that because you are the leader you should know how to manage personalities and motivate. This couldn't be further from the truth. People skills are just that, a skill that is developed through training, application and experience.
I am not saying that we absolve the employees of responsibility, let's face it in a highly functioning team environment there exists a high level of accountability all the way around. What I am saying is that we leaders be willing to look at ourselves and what we have control over. Here are 8 things you can do to motivate your teams:
1. Look in the mirror. Are you waking up with enthusiasm and excitement about your work? Have you set goals for yourself and your team? Or are you just punching a time clock like the rest of them and its all you can do to not fall asleep with boredom or scream out loud with frustration. What do you need to be more excited and enthused?
If you are not excited and energetic it is not fair to expect your team to bring the same to the table.
2. Take a retreat. Step away from the work environment for a day or if possible two.
Go to a 2-day management seminar or retreat and re-fuel, re-group and re-energize so that you can bring a fresh attitude and approach back to your team. Many leaders are suffering burnout and they are not able to be creative with their solutions. Signs of burnout are: lethargy, apathy and negativity just to name a few.
3. Take a pulse. Do an assessment of your team dynamics. List all of your team members on a piece of paper and beside each person's name indicate the level of performance you feel they are currently at, what you feel they are capable of and where the gap in performance exists. Then think about how you have approached this person in the past in regards to performance improvement and what you can do differently this time with them to have them hear you in a new and different way.
4. Tell them what you want. Have a team meeting and tell your team that you want to brainstorm ideas on how to create higher levels of motivation and morale. Be willing to hear all ideas and as a group have them prioritize the ideas and then delegate the action items. Be willing to do something yourself to show your commitment to the goal of higher motivation and morale.
5. Do a 360. It is a brave leader who willingingly has his/her teams assess them as leaders. The 360 degree performance evaluation system does just that. It allows for employees to evaluate their leaders and to provide sound feedback on how their leader can improve. Tell your team you want their opinions and input on how you can be a better leader. Be open and willing to hear the good with the bad and sometimes the ugly.
Then do something with the feedback- communicate back to your team what you are going to do as a result of the feedback.
6. Coach regularly. Statistics show that leaders who have a coaching plan in place for their employees have less absenteeism, higher productivity and overall higher morale. It makes sense doesn't it? Spend quality one on one time with your employees on a regular and rotating basis and they begin to perform at higher levels due to ongoing personal attention and validation. Coaching prevents bad behavior and negative attention methods by employees.
7. Praise in public- criticize in private. There is nothing that replaces pure praise. Employees surveyed stated that they value recognition above pay raises by their leaders. We often undervalue the power of praise and we may even feel that if they are doing a good job they should know that we think they are great. Some leaders feel that giving praise all the time is hard work and that employees requiring it are high maintenance.
The rules of giving effective praise are: praise specific behaviors or results, be sincere, make it timely when the event happens and when possible make it public.
8. Be a psychologist. Adapt to the different personalities of your team. You already know your people to a high level and yet we tend to overlook the unique emotional needs that each individual has. Treat them as they want to be treated and be willing to see things from their perspective. Openly communicate and be willing to share yourself with your team. You can't be everyone's friend however you can be accessible, open and trustworthy. Teams who have an understanding and compassionate leader tend to be more loyal and can weather ongoing change at higher levels.
Often we feel that we just need to throw money or perks towards our teams to keep them happy. This is an erroneous belief and it has been found that truly what people want is to have open communication, straightforward and direct leadership and an easygoing environment to work within. Sounds good doesn't it?
The rewards of leadership are many and we can have greater satisfaction, less stress and a sense of accomplishment when we look at what we can do to improve our team's performance and happiness on the job.
by Sandra Schrift
What have I done in the past that worked?
What's going on with me right now and am I bringing enthusiasm to the workplace?
Am I being realistic in my expectations and have I communicated them to my team?
A team's performance is a direct reflection of the leader who leads them. Ouch!
Think about it….people within a team will only perform to the level that they see rewarded or to the level that their leader brings to the table.
In my training seminars to management leaders I often challenge them to look at how themselves their strengths, weaknesses and how they manage before they look at the problems that their people are challenging them with.
Many leaders are put into their positions with little or no training and they are doomed to fail. The assumption most employees make is that because you are the leader you should know how to manage personalities and motivate. This couldn't be further from the truth. People skills are just that, a skill that is developed through training, application and experience.
I am not saying that we absolve the employees of responsibility, let's face it in a highly functioning team environment there exists a high level of accountability all the way around. What I am saying is that we leaders be willing to look at ourselves and what we have control over. Here are 8 things you can do to motivate your teams:
1. Look in the mirror. Are you waking up with enthusiasm and excitement about your work? Have you set goals for yourself and your team? Or are you just punching a time clock like the rest of them and its all you can do to not fall asleep with boredom or scream out loud with frustration. What do you need to be more excited and enthused?
If you are not excited and energetic it is not fair to expect your team to bring the same to the table.
2. Take a retreat. Step away from the work environment for a day or if possible two.
Go to a 2-day management seminar or retreat and re-fuel, re-group and re-energize so that you can bring a fresh attitude and approach back to your team. Many leaders are suffering burnout and they are not able to be creative with their solutions. Signs of burnout are: lethargy, apathy and negativity just to name a few.
3. Take a pulse. Do an assessment of your team dynamics. List all of your team members on a piece of paper and beside each person's name indicate the level of performance you feel they are currently at, what you feel they are capable of and where the gap in performance exists. Then think about how you have approached this person in the past in regards to performance improvement and what you can do differently this time with them to have them hear you in a new and different way.
4. Tell them what you want. Have a team meeting and tell your team that you want to brainstorm ideas on how to create higher levels of motivation and morale. Be willing to hear all ideas and as a group have them prioritize the ideas and then delegate the action items. Be willing to do something yourself to show your commitment to the goal of higher motivation and morale.
5. Do a 360. It is a brave leader who willingingly has his/her teams assess them as leaders. The 360 degree performance evaluation system does just that. It allows for employees to evaluate their leaders and to provide sound feedback on how their leader can improve. Tell your team you want their opinions and input on how you can be a better leader. Be open and willing to hear the good with the bad and sometimes the ugly.
Then do something with the feedback- communicate back to your team what you are going to do as a result of the feedback.
6. Coach regularly. Statistics show that leaders who have a coaching plan in place for their employees have less absenteeism, higher productivity and overall higher morale. It makes sense doesn't it? Spend quality one on one time with your employees on a regular and rotating basis and they begin to perform at higher levels due to ongoing personal attention and validation. Coaching prevents bad behavior and negative attention methods by employees.
7. Praise in public- criticize in private. There is nothing that replaces pure praise. Employees surveyed stated that they value recognition above pay raises by their leaders. We often undervalue the power of praise and we may even feel that if they are doing a good job they should know that we think they are great. Some leaders feel that giving praise all the time is hard work and that employees requiring it are high maintenance.
The rules of giving effective praise are: praise specific behaviors or results, be sincere, make it timely when the event happens and when possible make it public.
8. Be a psychologist. Adapt to the different personalities of your team. You already know your people to a high level and yet we tend to overlook the unique emotional needs that each individual has. Treat them as they want to be treated and be willing to see things from their perspective. Openly communicate and be willing to share yourself with your team. You can't be everyone's friend however you can be accessible, open and trustworthy. Teams who have an understanding and compassionate leader tend to be more loyal and can weather ongoing change at higher levels.
Often we feel that we just need to throw money or perks towards our teams to keep them happy. This is an erroneous belief and it has been found that truly what people want is to have open communication, straightforward and direct leadership and an easygoing environment to work within. Sounds good doesn't it?
The rewards of leadership are many and we can have greater satisfaction, less stress and a sense of accomplishment when we look at what we can do to improve our team's performance and happiness on the job.
by Sandra Schrift
motivation : 5 Tips To Supercharge Your Motivation
motivation is the driving force behind life-enhancing change. It comes from knowing exactly what you want to do and having an insatiable, burning desire to do what's necessary to get it. It keeps your dream on track as it is the power of motivation that keeps you going when the going gets tough.
Here's 5 top tips to help you supercharge your motivation:
1. Create a picture board and fill it with images of your desired goals. The car you want to own, the house you want to live in, the area where you want to live yes, they're the obvious ones. Others could be pictures of holiday destinations, trophies, first-class travel tickets, clothes you want to buy, fine restaurants you want to frequent – whatever you can think of that gets your pulse racing.
2. GET ANGRY. If you want to change your life for the better then get angry about where you're at now. Having a blasé attitude towards change isn't what's needed and it won't create a strong desire within you. So ask: "Why do I want to change?" Is it because you're FED UP with debts? Does your job DRIVE YOU CRAZY? Is your life DULL AND PRECITABLE? Are you SICK AND TIRED of doing the same thing week in week out? Are you BORED BEYOND BELIEF by the dull, uninspiring, unhappy people you associate with? THEN GET ANGRY ABOUT IT. And I mean REAL ANGRY. Write it all down, all of the frustrating, unrewarding, miserable lot of it that makes every day a dull slog until your final days. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?
3. Speaking of your final days, start to appreciate the value of time. Time is one of the most precious resources you have and it is also a NON RENEWABLE resource. You can either use it fully or squander it. If you want to create change you're going to have to invest a lot of time to make it happen. Start to reduce the time you waste on irrelevancies: Television, newspapers, lie-ins, weekends spent shopping, partying, dining out, visiting an endless line of relatives and friends – these won't help you get what you want and all of them will rob time from you. Valuable time that you can use much more effectively by investing it in YOU. Remember this: You have a finite amount of time here on Earth. You don't know how much time you have – no one does. But it's how you use the time you have that counts. So make your time count and that means starting from right NOW.
4. Conformity. Are you a mindless little sheep who's way too timid to pursue your own way? Do you have to follow where everyone else goes, doing exactly what everyone else does and therefore, who gets the same levels of happiness as all the other little sheep? Seriously, does this describe YOU? Are you too frightened to be different than all of the other sheep because they wouldn't like it if you decided to follow a different path? So you dutifully trot along following all the other sheep because if they're doing it then that's how it is right? But if you do what everyone else does you'll just get what everyone else gets. Do you want to be a mindless, timid little sheep who blindly follows all the other sheep? Or do you want to be a leader, a warrior who possesses the courage to be uniquely you and to do what you want to do and make your dreams happen? If so then this means you have to be more like a tiger than a sheep. Do you really want to be a sheep? I mean, haven't we got enough sheep already?
5. Fear your fear. Fear is the force that is determined to stop you in your tracks and rob your dreams from you. But it can only do this if you let it. Are you going to let this cruel destructive charlatan trample on your dreams, steal your happiness and crush your spirit? Imagine this thought haunting your final days: "I didn't do the things I wanted because I was too frightened to live". And by then, it'll be far too late to conquer fear. Refuse to let fear spoil your life and start taking action – now!
The world is waiting for your unique gifts. Why keep it waiting any longer?
by Christopher Green
Here's 5 top tips to help you supercharge your motivation:
1. Create a picture board and fill it with images of your desired goals. The car you want to own, the house you want to live in, the area where you want to live yes, they're the obvious ones. Others could be pictures of holiday destinations, trophies, first-class travel tickets, clothes you want to buy, fine restaurants you want to frequent – whatever you can think of that gets your pulse racing.
2. GET ANGRY. If you want to change your life for the better then get angry about where you're at now. Having a blasé attitude towards change isn't what's needed and it won't create a strong desire within you. So ask: "Why do I want to change?" Is it because you're FED UP with debts? Does your job DRIVE YOU CRAZY? Is your life DULL AND PRECITABLE? Are you SICK AND TIRED of doing the same thing week in week out? Are you BORED BEYOND BELIEF by the dull, uninspiring, unhappy people you associate with? THEN GET ANGRY ABOUT IT. And I mean REAL ANGRY. Write it all down, all of the frustrating, unrewarding, miserable lot of it that makes every day a dull slog until your final days. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?
3. Speaking of your final days, start to appreciate the value of time. Time is one of the most precious resources you have and it is also a NON RENEWABLE resource. You can either use it fully or squander it. If you want to create change you're going to have to invest a lot of time to make it happen. Start to reduce the time you waste on irrelevancies: Television, newspapers, lie-ins, weekends spent shopping, partying, dining out, visiting an endless line of relatives and friends – these won't help you get what you want and all of them will rob time from you. Valuable time that you can use much more effectively by investing it in YOU. Remember this: You have a finite amount of time here on Earth. You don't know how much time you have – no one does. But it's how you use the time you have that counts. So make your time count and that means starting from right NOW.
4. Conformity. Are you a mindless little sheep who's way too timid to pursue your own way? Do you have to follow where everyone else goes, doing exactly what everyone else does and therefore, who gets the same levels of happiness as all the other little sheep? Seriously, does this describe YOU? Are you too frightened to be different than all of the other sheep because they wouldn't like it if you decided to follow a different path? So you dutifully trot along following all the other sheep because if they're doing it then that's how it is right? But if you do what everyone else does you'll just get what everyone else gets. Do you want to be a mindless, timid little sheep who blindly follows all the other sheep? Or do you want to be a leader, a warrior who possesses the courage to be uniquely you and to do what you want to do and make your dreams happen? If so then this means you have to be more like a tiger than a sheep. Do you really want to be a sheep? I mean, haven't we got enough sheep already?
5. Fear your fear. Fear is the force that is determined to stop you in your tracks and rob your dreams from you. But it can only do this if you let it. Are you going to let this cruel destructive charlatan trample on your dreams, steal your happiness and crush your spirit? Imagine this thought haunting your final days: "I didn't do the things I wanted because I was too frightened to live". And by then, it'll be far too late to conquer fear. Refuse to let fear spoil your life and start taking action – now!
The world is waiting for your unique gifts. Why keep it waiting any longer?
by Christopher Green
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