Keep Your Drive Alive
By Thomas Davis, CRNA, MAE, Lt. Col (ret)
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Whether you’re doing a google search for effective leadership, reading a leadership book or attending a motivational presentation, you will learn that both leadership and teamwork take effort. Successful leaders are driven from within, exuding optimism and high energy like the little engine that could. However, the process of being energetic while motivating others can be draining and can wear down the inner spirit of the leader. Here are some thoughts on maintaining your self-motivation and a few simple tips for stoking your inner engine.
Know your internal motivators
The specific motivators that flip your “on” button and get you going vary from person to person; however, the following are known to be intrinsic motivators for high achievement in both your professional and personal lives.
- The feeling of self-satisfaction Leaving your job at the end of the day and knowing that your work was high-quality gives you a sense of accomplishment that makes you want to come back tomorrow for another dynamic day. The upbeat feeling can be carried home to continue as you make a difference in the lives of those who are significant to you.
- The pursuit of knowledge According to the Gallup engagement survey, opportunity for improving your knowledge and your skills is a motivator and contributes to making one workplace better than another. Don’t wait for your employer to offer a professional development plan, rather, take it upon yourself to identify an area of interest, develop a personal plan and learn new skills.
- The challenge of solving a problem The release of inner creativity provides powerful incentive for self-motivation. Being dared to streamline a process or solve a problem is energizing and makes you want to take on larger challenges.
- The feeling of self-worth Knowing that you make a difference, or the difference, to a patient, co-worker, or organization is a strong self-stimulant. It creates connectivity and inspires the desire to return tomorrow for another opportunity to serve others.
Seek external rewards
Along with intrinsic motivators, extrinsic factors bolster optimism and fuel you with the energy to continue your commitment to the job.
- Tangible rewards Working at an elevated level of achievement may uplift self-worth however is does not pay the bills. Tangible rewards in the form of pay and benefits are strong motivators for showing up and doing a respectable job. Extra rewards in the form of a prize or bonus motivate good workers to give even more effort to the job.
- Public recognition/praise In addition to winning a prize, being held up as an example of excellence in a public forum is a strong motivator. Whether in a team meeting or on the company billboard, being cited as a positive example is motivating.
- Promotion Being selected to move up in the organization and take on additional responsibility creates an inner desire to give more and show that you deserve the trust that has been placed in you.
Simple Tangible Tips
Built on known internal and external stimuli, these tangible tips will motivate you to feed the fires within, without burning out.
- Release feel-good hormones. Writing in The upward spiral, neuroscientists and authors Alex Korb and Daniel Siegel document that gratitude and optimism make you feel good because they cause the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Both hormones elevate your mood and create a sense of well-being which ties into a more positive attitude. Set aside 10 minutes for daily reflection, preferably at the same time every day. For some it will be at the beginning of the day and for others it will be at bedtime. In the first 5 minutes, recall people and things for which you are grateful. In the second 5 minutes, think of upcoming events or opportunities that create a sense of optimism within you. Those two activities will stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonin which, according to Korb and Siegel, will make you feel and sleep better.
- Complete a task. Building success on success is motivating and creates the feeling that you can handle even bigger tasks. If you don’t know where to start, pick something simple that can be done easily. Something as modest as committing to take out the trash is a tangible activity and may even motivate you to do something else when you return.
- Make a healthy choice every day. Recognize your self-worth by doing something healthy for your mind or body every day. Making a plan and enjoying an activity that promotes nutrition, sleep, exercise or meditation today restores the energy level needed to have a productive day tomorrow.
- Close the day with positive thoughts. End your day by identifying something that you are looking forward to tomorrow and give yourself a reason to get out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. If you combine optimistic thoughts with gratitude and thanks, you will experience the bonus benefit of the release of your brain’s happy hormones as you drift off to sleep.
You may be a team leader, or you may be a productive team member, regardless, it can be difficult to maintain your inner motivation constantly. Pace yourself in your work and become aware of the intrinsic and extrinsic activities that encourage your intent to remain highly productive. Use the tangible tips in this article to pour fuel on your inner fire and, like the little engine that could, never stop until you reach your goal.
Special thanks to my wife and editor, Liz Sanner Davis.
Thomas Davis is a noted leader, educator, speaker and clinical anesthetist.
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