Tips to get motivated for work
January 23, 2019
By Brian Maynor
Would you be surprised to know that 85% of people worldwide feel disengaged from their jobs?
That’s according to a recent Gallop poll. That leaves a mere 15% who are at least engaged with their work, if not completely satisfied. Which percentage do you fall into?
If you’re part of the majority, then you probably wake up every morning dreading the thought of going to work. That’s not a good way to start the day, and definitely colors our thoughts, attitudes and actions throughout it.
Since we’re still in the beginning of 2019 and just entered the Lunar Year of the Pig there is still time to work on our job satisfaction, but particularly our daily motivation to keep doing what we do. Here are a few ideas and tips:
1. Pinpoint the source of our dissatisfaction. When we’re feeling disconnected or worse dissatisfied with our work, we need to step back and pinpoint the specific source. Whether it’s the culture, lack of opportunity, security, compensation, leadership, respect or other concerns, when we target the root cause, or causes of the problem we can formulate a plan to address it.
2. Acknowledge the fact, we may have an addiction problem. No, I’m not talking about drugs or alcohol, but according to workitdaily.com most of us have an addition to praise. A lot of people subside on the high that comes with validation and praise. Seeking this constant rush leads us to choose careers for the wrong reasons. We gravitate toward opportunities where we can be liked, respected and approved of rather than ones that resonate with us on a deeper level.
3. Identify our current motivators. There are essentially two basic motivators. We are motivated to either move away from an imagined negative outcome, or to move towards an imagined positive one. Avoiding negative outcomes is effective for short-term purposes. For example, if I don’t go into work today I will be fired. While these can be powerful motivators, they tend to leave us feeling anxious, powerless and damage our self-esteem.
4. Practice positive motivational strategies. The first strategy is to change how we talk to ourselves. Instead of blaming, judging and criticizing ourselves, we should become our own cheerleaders. When we talk to ourselves, and we all do it, with positive and encouraging words it directly impacts both our mental and physical outcomes.
5. Seek out our intrinsic motivators. The best way to cultivate and sustain our motivation is to find work that feeds our soul, not our ego. This is the truly satisfying work that no one may ever know we do, or recognize our efforts, but that doesn’t matter. When we find fulfillment in what we do every day, we will have a sustained motivation to not only get up and get going, but also work hard at being and doing the best job possible.
Being motivated to get out of bed and go to work everyday may seem like a pipe dream now, but with a little time and practice we can find satisfaction in our current situation or we can move on to new opportunities with a better understanding of what brings us both short-term and long-term happiness.
I’m always excited to hear from you, so please email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
