We can all agree that motivation is vital for everything we want to do. Whether in your personal life or in the workplace, you need a driving force to keep you going.
If we lack motivation, we neglect our needs and goals. And neglecting our goals means we get stuck in rut, which leads to dissatisfaction, sluggishness and perhaps even depression.
In the workplace, however, there are some simple tricks you can do to spark your motivation and ensure you work effectively.
Here are 5 tips you can try to increase your motivation:
1. Communication is vital
It may be obvious but talking to someone you trust at work or in your network works wonders! It can help you get out of the blues and boost your creative thinking. They might relate to your situation and give you advice or recommendations that you haven’t thought of.
Another way is to ask for feedback from your peers, line manager or clients. Take their criticism not as something negative, but a push for positive improvement. If they praise you for your hard work, that should be your dose of motivation for the whole week!
The same goes for giving transparent feedback to your colleagues or team. When they feel motivated and inspired, this will reflect on you and you’ll develop stronger relationships with them.
2. Turn goals into SMART objectives
We all love it when our goals go to plan at work. It is strikingly motivational when everything goes right but devastating when it goes wrong. But what is the secret recipe in reaching your goals? Turning them into SMART objectives! S is for Specific, M is for Measurable, A is for Achievable, R is for Realistic and T is for Time-Framed.
Here’s a brief example. Let’s say you want to become a better manager. Write down the specifics of this goal (who, what, when, where, which, why). Then write down how you’ll measure this. Thirdly, write down how you can achieve it. Then, write down how relevant it is to wider business objectives. Lastly, set a target time-period for attaining the goal.
3. Learn something new
Be open to new practices, methods, ideas and skills. Challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone and get involved in the learning process. The joy of knowing a new formula on Excel, or how to recruit on LinkedIn are some examples, but it benefits yourself and is an added value to your business or employer.
4. Say NO to negativity
If an assignment comes over to you, don’t dread about it and assume immediately it’s impossible to achieve. A pessimistic perception of your work drives motivation out of the window, so counter it by taking a positive approach and change your mindset accordingly. Look at the glass half full rather than half empty.
5. Exercise your way to positivity!
Many companies, enterprises and schools have come to realise the benefits of exercise or meditation during work or study time and its strong link to clear thinking and energy levels. Have a break and do a 10-minute walk, cycle outside your workplace or do some yoga to recharge.