If you find yourself in situations where you are chasing the proverbial dangling carrot, you may find yourself in situations where you feel demotivate and depleted.
Recent research reveals the satisfaction of doing a job well can often get lost in the drive for praise and promotion. Author Daniel Pink identifies three key factors to Intrinsic Motivation in his book Drive. Click on each TAB to reveal how Pink describes each factor.
Your personal values define the drivers that make you unique and strong. They guide your priorities, decisions, and behaviors.
Take a look at this short scene from The Office. Pay attention to how Michael’s Intrinsic Motivation allows him to shift his attention from “What will others think?” to “What is right for me?”
Identify Your Values
“What is right for me?” may sound selfish at first, but studies show that your own needs and values matter in order to live a life of meaning and fulfillment. When you identify your values, you are able to discover what’s most important to you.
One way to identify your values is to take a look back on your life to find patterns in both your personal and professional life.
Click on each of the ROWS below and reflect on the questions provided.
As you reflect on your responses to the questions above, use the list below to identify the values that consistently presented themselves.
Select six to eight values from the list, or for more values, do a google search!
Achievement
Adventure
Catalyst
Community
Competition
Courage
Creativity
Excellence
Faith
Family
Fun
Happiness
Health and well-being
Helping Others
Integrity
Leadership
Learning
Mastery
Pleasure
Peace
Power
Safety/Security
Trust
Other: ______________________________________
Now, go back to the list and narrow it down even further. Of the six to eight values you selected, which are your top three?
It’s one thing to identify and know your values. It’s another to live a life that is aligned with them. As you consider your top values, answer the following questions.
Imagine your life aligned to these top three values. What’s different? What’s the same?
How would it feel to be more fully aligned with your values?
How do these values give you the energy to persevere even in difficult times?
What choices do you have to create change that allows you to align more closely to your values?
What one small change can you make this week to better align with your values?
This illustration helps us to understand intrinsic motivation. Meghan’s core drivers and values made her step out to create change.
With emotional intelligence, you too can tap into your intrinsic motivation…those core drivers that make you unique and strong.
What motivates you to take a risk, to speak up, or to stand out? How can you lean into your feelings to make a move?
Think about a time when you were intrinsically motivated. What feelings and thoughts propelled you to action?
Share your story with someone else. How can you inspire a colleague, family member, or friend to step out in alignment with what he or she finds intrinsically motivating?
When you Engage Intrinsic Motivation you gain energy from personal values, commitments, and goals. These are the core drivers that make you unique. Intrinsic motivation does not include external factors such as promotions, money, recognition, grades, etc.
The following questions will help you understand what drives you.
What gets you excited?
What breaks your heart?
What consumes your thoughts?
What really matters to you? What is important to you?
In what circumstances do you feel most alive and full?
What is your signature strength?
Complete the Practice Sessions in this module to begin to explore the answers to these questions.