Motivation Roller Coaster

The year is just getting started and you have over 11 months remaining. Throughout this year, some periods will fly by while others seem like they will never end. Regardless, you must keep yourself motivated the entire time. You have to feed your motivation drivers.

Too often, we rely on the moment to motivate us. If we like what we are doing and we’re in a good mood, we are more motivated. If it’s something we don’t care to do, or we feel stressed or overwhelmed, not so much. Rather than ride the roller coaster, it would be better to assume responsibility for our motivation. If we take control of what drives us, we aren’t beholden to the moment.

Motivation Drivers

As you can imagine, there are numerous models and theories about motivation. However, professional practitioners draw from several common motivations. All are important to us, but in different combinations and intensities, depending on the circumstances. See which ones you can relate to.

1. Apply technical capabilities to solve client problems. From surveys we have conducted, this seems to be a dominant driver. Helping clients by using our honed knowledge, skills and experience is very rewarding and we look for opportunities to do so.
2. Develop trusting client relationships. Some of us are driven to have quality relationships with our colleagues and our clients. There is a deep sense of fulfillment when we connect with others, knowing that we matter to them and they benefit from knowing us.
3. Take and meet challenges and expectations. Assignments and projects that are just beyond our current level of competency are ideal situations that stimulate our energy and action. We love to “check off the list” and are proud of accomplishing what we didn’t know we could do. We feel driven to take on the next challenge.
4. Establish and expand our status and reputation. Being known for our capabilities and successes is also rewarding. It’s not about ego, but that our long hours of learning and working are recognized. It’s a special feeling to be sought out because of our reputation.
5. Achieve financial and material gain. This driver is important to all of us, but is really strong for those who are less mature in life and the profession. Experience will soon reveal that monetary gains will come from engaging the other drivers. How many times do we see young professionals trade in doing what they love, where they love to do it, for more money elsewhere?

By knowing our primary drivers, we can stimulate our motivations so that we bring our best self and feel personally satisfied with our lives and career. That’s what it takes for us to endure, succeed and enjoy our professional pursuits. Which drivers to you respond to?