Understanding Motivation 101
Johnpaulriger
Motivation, Mindset and Wellness
Like all things earthly that “move”, motivation is kinetic in the sense that it’s subject to come and go, to ebb and flow, to rise and fall from the friction we endure in everyday life. Sometimes we’re motivated. Sometimes we’re not. That’s fair to expect of ourselves and others. Understanding motivation is the key to self-empowerment.
There are two types of motivators. Global Motivators we all share in common. They’re things as simple as fear, pain, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, and a short list of others. They’re most often background influences in our lives as we rarely think of them. Make no mistake though we’re all influenced by them to do many things. Most are external influences that force us to do things. That I have to “get” motivated to gather up enough wood to stay warm in the winter is almost always an ambient and daunting thought in my mind. I tend to procrastinate on all things that stem from my global motivators and I think others do as well. My motivation lapses immediately after I’ve accomplished them.
The second type is called Local Motivators. These motivators stem from our values and we tend to consider them unique to ourselves. There’s an infinite list of them. Unlike global motivators, local motivators move us from within. For example, I’m often motivated to be with family, to write stories, compose music, go fishing and swim. I value all those things and “am” motivated to do those types of activities. Did you notice the difference between having to “get” motivated and to “be” motivated? Many of our local motivators we share with others, but because they stem from our values instead of the pressures of life, we consider them our own and possess the motivation, the success and failures that ensue. Local motivation tends to accumulate over time as we carry the motivation more consistently. It too will lapse but not as rapidly nor as deeply as the energy we exert to overcome external motivation.
Different people and organizations have and share common and distinct motivators. My recent career in natural resources had to often consider the various motivations of different groups to a common and hopefully successful outcome. Understanding the motivations of them all was the key to many successes. Wildlife biologists have a different motivation than does an engineering group or that of pathology or a legislative group. Understanding the intersection of those motivations was vital to accomplishing our many goals. For us that intersection was the containment and isolation of known wildlife diseases and thus became our common focus. The same would apply for almost any team of varied interests.
One last thing, if you wish to motivate others your best bet is to “be” motivated yourself. Your motivation will bounce others into action especially if you know their values. Understanding individual and team motivation is easy. Ask each other and ask yourself, “What motivates you?” You’ll find there’s often a profuse answer to that question. Thorough communication of local motivators exposes their underlying values. Each is valid. Each is vital to success. Once they’re successfully understood and accomplished remember the motivation will and should lapse. That’s the time to celebrate, raise a glass and cheer!
So what gets YOU motivated? Please share by commenting below.
Johnpaulriger @ May 12, 2008
Johnpaulriger