Motivation is a key component of success. Sure, talent, intelligence, and money can play a part.
But there’s a science involved as well, and GenuLines wants you to put it to work in your path to success.
Boost Your Motivation With a Bit of Science
We all have lists of things we “hope” we’ll do. But how do we
put these things into the “done”
column?
Let’s take a look at the science of motivation and the ways to harness it to your advantage.
An Improved Approach to Motivation
Dan Pink wrote a best-selling book, “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” He says that there are three components of motivation that push us to get things done.
And he scraps the old carrot and stick types of reward systems.
Instead, Pink argues that a scientific approach gives us a better view of the subject. This, he says, helps us come up with strategies to power up motivation.
Three Elements of Motivation
Pink says research shows that autonomy, value, and competence drive motivation. Autonomy refers to the amount of control or independence we feel over a task or action.
He says studies point to a connection between input on a task and better follow through.
The second component of motivation is value. This is the amount of personal significance or importance you place on a matter.
In other words, if something matters to you on a personal level, you’ll feel more motivated to take it on.
Competence comes from a feeling of mastery as it relates to practice and hard work. This doesn’t mean you have to have natural abilities.
Spending time developing competence seems to increase chances of reaching the goal.
Strategies to Increase Motivation
Now you have an understanding of what matters most with regard to what motivates us. So let’s look at some strategies to increase motivation.
With autonomy as a guide, let’s consider ways to add a sense of control or involvement in activities. One way to do this is to take ownership of a chore or add some aspect of self-direction to it.
Let’s say you’re having difficulty starting a project such as submitting a paper. It may help to think of all the ways doing this will set you apart as an expert in your field.
You’ll see that turning in the paper is a necessary part of sharing your unique views with your colleagues.
To add value to your task, you want to make it meaningful or personal. Find a way to add purpose to that item on your to-do list.
This involves changing your perspective or the way you look at that item.
Doing your taxes is a chore you might dread. Add purpose to it by focusing on the work you’ve done that’s represented by the numbers on the page.
Or the contribution you’ve made to your job and community through your efforts. Paying taxes is a symbol of good citizenry.
Finally, there’s competence. Feeling mastery over an act requires practice.
Try to look at the job at hand as one in which you are working toward an end goal of skillfulness.
For instance, you’ll soon see the treadmill as less of an adversary the more workout sessions you endure. As you get fitter you’ll see exercise as a little easier.
And, you’ll get a feeling of accomplishment.
Motivation is not always easy to come by. But with a little knowledge of science you can be more effective in moving toward your dreams.
In time you’ll be mastering your goals. And that will fuel your motivation in the future.
JohnK 11-9-2020
Overheard: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~Nelson Mandela
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