Motivation can be defined in numerous ways, but there are two basic definitions or descriptions. It can be defined as the main reason or reasons that individuals partake in a certain behavior, specifically human behavior pursuant to the study of psychology or neuropsychology. It can also be defined as the driving force that initiates and drives an individual’s behavior. It is the internal energy that propels us to achieve our goals. Typically, it is considered to be a dynamic state of mind not concerned with personality. There are three aspects of human behavior that motivation is based and founded in: 1. arousal of behavior 2. direction of behavior 3. persistence of behavior Arousal of behavior relates to a specific thing that activates behavior whereas direction of behavior relates to what is responsible for directing the behavior. Persistence of behavior relates to how the behavior is sustained. What drives an individual to be successful is referred to as motive. Usually, all motives fall into one of three categories and are considered to be physiological or psychological in nature: 1. homeostatic motives – hunger, respiration, thirst, etc. 2. nonhomeostatic motives – curiosity about the environment, seeking shelter, etc. 3. learned or social motives – achievement, approval, power, social affiliation, etc In any endeavor that an individual undertakes, motivation (or the lack thereof) is the key element behind the success or failure of the endeavor. It plays a key role in the workplace where the effective performance of an employee is concerned. Management or supervisory personnel have a direct impact and play a significant role in employee motivation in that they employ different motivational techniques to raise productivity levels. It also follows that this has a direct effect on the cooperation levels between the employer and the employee. Motivation can also be classified as 1. negative or positive 2. obvious or subtle 3. intangible or tangible Education or learning is also interrelated with motivation and instructors will oftentimes employ motivational techniques to get their students to learn. It can benefit the student by making them more competent as well as encouraging confidence and the ability to solve problems. Self-motivation has also been classified into two different types: 1. Extrinsic – generated by external factors 2. Intrinsic – generated by internal sensations and is longer-lasting than extrinsic Self-motivation is considered to be intrinsic in nature, and originates from an individual’s internal drives. It is the basis for overcoming obstacles in the path of achieving one’s goals. Additionally, certain external factors are responsible for driving a person into undertaking a new project or to move in a positive direction. Characteristically, self-motivation is comprised of three factors: 1. beliefs 2. desires 3. values Since an individual cannot rely on others for motivation, self-motivation has to come from within. It plays a key role wherein the individual gathers the courage and strength to achieve certain goals, and is essential for developing new undertakings or making a positive change in one’s lifestyle. Training programs have been proven to be the best way to educate oneself in order to improve motivation and self-motivation.
Archive for the ‘Motivational’ Category
Motivation – the 3 Aspects of Human Behavior You Must Know to Succeed
Saturday, August 14th, 2010The Golden Rules Of Motivation
Monday, August 9th, 2010Why is motivation important?
Whether you are trying to achieve something yourself or lead others towards an achievement, the ability to be self-motivated or to motivate is crucial. When we meet people who are regarded as successful or high achievers, it is tempting to assume that they are innately self-driven, or are natural leaders with high levels of motivational ability. This may well be the case, but it is just as likely that they have learned and used some effective techniques for either motivating themselves or to motivate others.
The benefits of motivation to an individual are fairly obvious – people who are motivated tend to be more successful in achieving their personal and professional goals, which in turn has benefits in terms of their self-esteem and confidence. Given that people are usually the most important asset of any organization, motivation is also a critical factor in the overall success of a team or business.
Three golden rules of motivation
Motivation does not take place on its own. In order to be motivated or to motivate others, it is important to remember three golden rules of motivation before considering any specific techniques.
1 Motivation is impossible without clear achievable goals
Motivation and goal setting are inextricably linked. Without a goal or purpose, motivation is meaningless, whilst motivation is a vital part of intentionally achieving any goal. Two of the most basic motivators are to know exactly what you are trying to achieve, and to then go out and achieve it. Not having a clear idea of your goal or not believing that a goal is attainable will severely dent your motivation.
2 Motivation and goals need to be in alignment at every level
How often have you felt that you have been performing well or doing a good job, only to be told by your manager or colleagues that you have been focusing on the wrong thing, that priorities have changed or that you have simply been underperforming? For example, imagine an experienced sales person who has an excellent track record of retaining business with their established customers, but is heavily criticized by their manager for failing to develop as much new business as their less experienced colleague. As a result, the sales person feels alienated, undervalued and ultimately de-motivated. Their performance and results are likely to suffer. The chances are that there has been a lack of dialogue between the manager and the sales person over how individual goals need to fit with the overall goals of the company. If the emphasis is on generating new business, has this been communicated effectively to each sales person, and in a manner which will motivate each of them to succeed?
Every business needs motivated employees in order to be successful and achieve its goals. If employee motivation is not closely matched to these business goals, the chances of success are diminished.
3 Motivation is neither fixed nor infinite
Motivation is not a one-off event. Something which provides motivation at one particular time may not be as effective in the future, due to changes in environment and circumstances. If someone is driven to become the best in their field, how do they maintain their motivation to perform once they reach the pinnacle of their profession? Even if circumstances remain constant, the most powerful motivational factors will lose impact over the course of time. For instance, you may attend a conference and feel energized by a particular speaker or meeting, and leave the event highly motivated to put what you have heard into action. How long will the impact of what you heard last before you slip back into old ways of doing things?
Motivation is a constant process and constantly changes. As an individual or as a leader trying to motivate others, it is vital to remember this.
Why Corporate Motivational Speakers are a Worthy Investment
Friday, July 30th, 2010In current times, corporations are faced with a myriad of challenges that they must be ready to meet in order to grow and change with the times. Strong and confident business owners meet challenges head on, and insist on finding viable solutions for them. Keeping employees productive in trying economic times is not an easy task. Negative influences seem to come from everywhere, and it is imperative that a corporation finds a way to prevent the worries and concerns of its employees from affecting production. The single, most effective way of helping a corporation stay strong in tough times, is to keep employees excited and motivated. Most businesses choose to achieve this by hiring a corporate motivational speaker. Once considered a luxury, the use of corporate motivational speakers has become something many presidents, and CEOs have come to rely on and deem a necessity. The president or CEO that dedicates his or herself to helping employees fulfill their individual goals, ultimately creates success for the overall corporation. Investing in a motivational speaker is revenue well spent, as the benefits the corporation receives in return, can be quite numerous. Corporate motivational speakers create change, by heavily influencing their listeners’ thought patterns and emotions in a positive way. For instance, they can endorse new practices or techniques that being put into effect by the corporation. It’s amazing how quickly an entire department can go from being woeful to excited about a change, solely from the influence of a corporate motivational speaker. The employees then tend to embrace the change, rather than fear it, thus making the transition easier. Corporate motivational speakers are also a positive inspiration for employees working against the backdrop of a shaky economy. Most motivational speakers have faced seemingly insurmountable odds at some point in their life, but overcame them to achieve success. Often, this is the reason they became this type of speaker to begin with. When this attitude is conveyed to employees, they begin to see their own problems as challenges they can successfully meet, at which point production sky-rockets. Among the many other reasons a motivational speaker is a sound investment for any corporation, is the fact that he or she will generally be hired for only a few hours. Revenue spent to cover the fee of just one talented individual, for a short amount of time, is money well invested, as this one person has the potential to help hundreds of employees work more efficiently.
Most corporations that make this type of investment look back, are pleased with their decision, and find themselves reaping the benefits for a long time to come.