The Three Keys to Effective Motivation

Without motivation, every business will fail, every team will lose, and every goal will lie unmet. Motivation makes things happen. It is what drives you to do what you do. It's your purpose, your reason for getting out of bed in the morning. It's what's in it for you. What are three of the basic keys to effective motivation?

Ultimately, motivation can be broken down into two types, intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivating forces are those physical rewards we will receive when we accomplish whatever it is we want to accomplish. For instance, a paycheck is an extrinsic motivator that gets you to do some work. A better looking figure is a motivator for exercising. An award or prize can be an effective extrinsic motivator if you find yourself working hard to win it. Intrinsic motivating forces, on the other hand, are those motivators that come from within us. Confidence and self-esteem will grow if we work hard toward our goals. These interior feelings are examples of intrinsic motivators. Wishing to live up to a spiritual or social standard is another. Feeling guilty or proud can motivate us to change the things we do, as well. Finding three keys to motivation means analyzing what motivates you both on the outside and on the inside, and letting these rewards change your behavior.

Key Number One: Love your work. Do you like what you do? Did you choose your business because you were inspired to do it, or did it seem like a good idea because someone else made money at it? Unless you really love and value what you're working at, it is likely to become a drag eventually, regardless of how easy-going you are. Of course, even working at your dearest passion involves drudgery and routine from time to
time. Still, if you don't love your work, it might be time to rethink what you're doing, or find a new way to look at it.

Key Number Two: Reduce clutter. Having things piled up really saps a person's energy. Learn to take action on papers that come your way before they pile up. A lot of the lack of organization is really just a matter of putting off making decisions. You hesitate to throw a piece of mail away because you are mildly interested in it and might want to look at it again some day. When this happens 5 or more times a day, you soon have stacks of paper you'll never be able to organize so that you'd find any one item again. Be quicker to throw things out in the beginning. Chances are, you'll get another one pretty soon, anyway.

Key Number Three: Have written goals, both large and small. Most businesses have a written plan that includes the big picture and the big goals. This is good, because you want to know what the ultimate target is. Still, it is helpful to morale and motivation to have those big goals broken down into manageable bites. What can you do right now as a stepping stone to seeing that big goal come about? Write it down, do it, and then
reward yourself some way.