Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. –W. Clement Stone
Motivation can be an elusive, and at times, fleeting feeling. When you are lacking motivation the world and challenges in front of you can feel insurmountable.
Sometimes all it takes is one small step in the right direction, an act or something that empowers and compels you to take action. While we are all different and require different stimulus, we do have one thing in common: the capacity to self-motivate.
As a leader, you can’t motivate anyone to do anything unless they are willing. What you can do is offer incentives and approaches to motivate themselves.
Are you lacking motivation? Here are four very effective strategies to help you or those you lead move toward actualising their untapped potential.
Goals, goals, goals!
“Set a goal”, people say. We know it sounds like a bit of a cliché, but it’s for good reason! Even a small goal, once accomplished, can give you the boost you need to take your life or career to the next level. So don’t underestimate the power of the low hanging fruit. Think about and write down even the simplest of goals and determine what steps you need to take in order to check it off your to do list.
Procrastinate later!
Uff, procrastination can be a whole blog post of its own! And we will explore it more at length in the very near future. Until then, let us offer some food for thought… Procrastination is the natural predator of motivation, because it hinders our ability to gain momentum and take action on our goals. We have all suffered from it at some point or another in our career or personal life and it can truly be debilitating. It usually (not always) indicates a deep-rooted fear of failure. A good way of dealing with this fear is to focus on the process rather than the outcome of the task or goal—take it one step at a time while remaining in the moment.
Past strategies work!
Think carefully about all your accomplishments so far. You didn’t get this far by sitting on your hands, did you? Think of what helped you get to where you are today. Perhaps you had a mentor in whom you could confide or a book that gave you inspiration to take action on something you feared. Go back to basics and think of times when moving forward was effortless.
Choose to be…
Abraham Lincoln said that most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be, and research in the field of positive psychology continues to reinforce this understanding. You can in fact choose your state of mind and when you create a positive environment in your psyche, your mind and body will inevitably follow. Reciting affirmations daily, adopting healthy eating and exercise routines or performing a self-less act can bring you joy and a sense of self-satisfaction.
Do you have other tips for self-motivation? Share them with us in the comment section below. Want more tips on how to reach your potential? Check out our other blog posts for actionable strategies or contact us.