Future Trends in Motivation- How to Keep Your Self, Students or Employees Motivated

Motivation – it is the backburner of all human endeavors. Nothing great or small is accomplished without this. Without motivation to, all life and endeavor comes to a halt. It is the stickiness that brings dreams to their fulfillment.

Ah, great it is believe the dream
As we stand in youth by the starry stream.
But a great thing is to live life through,
And say at the end, the dream came through

Beyond the daily grind of habit, and familiar automatism, discovering how to keep your self motivated to perform a task, see a project through or even achieve a long term dream is important. It is crucial to success and worthwhile accomplishment. Amongst many factors that motivate, having a strong reason has been cited as the most significant.

It is the meaning behind the "why" that drives motivates and goads to action. Victor Frankl, agreed with the philosopher Nietze that he who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how. At the heart of his theory is the belief that whatever personal circumstances, what keeps us going is the meaning we find in living. Frankl noted that people who had hope of being reunited with loved ones or who had projects the y needed to complete or who had great faith tended to have a better chance at survival than those who did not have a reason or had little to keep them from going through the difficulties.

The belief and the meaning and the reason for living on belief helped him survive the camps against all odds when millions others perished under the harsh conditions. Similarly, personal motivation, student or employee motivation that will outlast and survive harsh conditions would need to stem from a strong reason.

Another source of motivation, both in yourself, in your employee, or in the classroom or in the community which you lead, is the taste of accomplishment. We need to see that we can succeed. It is a strange but true phenomenon that we get about the same boost small accomplishments as from big ones. Small victories are often the most fulfilling. Accomplishment nurtures the spirit. Whether we win big or small does not matter- the fact is, you have accomplished and achieved something significant that we have set out to do and you have tasted success.

John C Maxwell lists 5 factors which are important in increasing motivation.

1. Significant Contribution.
Most of us have a need to create something positive, to contribute, to pursue a cause in which we can see that that what we are doing is worthwhile. That it is not wasted effort. There is value in what we are doing. And that fulfills the need to contribute to something significant. This need is inherent in all of us. Fill that need. Motivation will soar when it is seen that there is something positive to give.

2. Goal participation.
Create your own goals. Let students, employees, your children, your family, your group in the community create their own goals. By creating and being part of the goal-setting process, you and your group will have a sense of contribution and have ownership of the goal. When the goal, no matter how small, becomes a reality there is a sense of personal achievement. The future is shaped and a difference is made because they have created the goal and the outcome. This goal setting exercise with personal involvement then also enhances morale. Within the team, it and builds team spirit.

3. Positive dissatisfaction.
Dissatisfied people are highly motivated people. Why are so many high school dropouts motivated to achieved great success? Because they have experienced and tasted the need for immediate change. They are highly motivated when they have awakened to the dissatisfaction of being a high school drop-out and are inspired to change. On the other hand, dissatisfaction can lead to negative change and one must beware of letting it lead to discouragement and criticism. Dissatisfaction which leads positive action is the key.

4. Recognition.
The need to be appreciated and recognized is deep. Although it is not a prerequisite for internal motivation, when you are recognized for your talent or effort, motivation level certainly increase and makes you want to accomplish more. Do give your employees, students, friends recognition. It will certainly go a long way.

5. Clear expectations
When expectations are clear on what one has to accomplish, and responsibilities clearly defined, then there will be more sense of control over what can or needs to be accomplished, less confusion and disappointment.

Start now to take steps towards increasing your motivation for life, for your work, your current project.

Remind yourself of the reason and meaning behind what you are doing. Remind your group. Remind your students. Remind your employees.

Create a mission, a reason, a vision.
Give them a reason strong enough, that touches them at the core, if possible.

Be positively dissatisfied with the current situation.

Set your own goals and let each person set theirs.

Recognize and applaud achievements, no matter how small.
When you achieve, you will want to achieve more.
Adrenalin levels rise when positive achievement happens.

You will be in the flow.
Work becomes play, when there is a mission to be accomplished that is worthwhile, achievable and recognized.

Enjoy the journey.

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