Using Motivators Part 1 – Rewards
Posted on August 26, 2016 by Judy Lair, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
Utilizing the right motivator can help you get started and stay on task. Just because you've become an adult doesn't mean you leave motivators behind.
Getting started is hard for everyone. Even when you know things need to be done, it’s hard to begin and stay on task. Finding the right motivator can be the missing key component.
Remember when you were a kid and your parents bribed you with ice cream if you got your shots at the doctor? In middle school maybe you had to earn your spending money by doing chores.
Who can forget the lectures on getting home before curfew upon threat of losing your car keys?
Just because you’ve become an adult doesn’t mean you leave motivators behind. Everyone needs to figure out what gives them a kick in the butt to get started and enough incentive to keep going until they finish. There are four different categories of motivators. Today we’ll look at Rewards.
Rewards are tangible, “feel good” activities or items we dangle as incentives. These “carrots” give us a starting push and keep us from getting distracted with something else or giving up before the end. They keep us sharp and engaged.
“If I get that report done first thing today, I’m going to get my favorite sandwich for lunch.”
“I’m going to return 5 more calls and then take a break to get coffee from that specialty place around the corner. I’ll use this break as a reward to give myself a push to finish the last 5 calls when I get back.”
Rewards can correspond to the level of internal resistance to the project. Harder, more frustrating tasks result in bigger rewards. Whether your task is to give a presentation, tell your boss bad news, or re-write something for the third time, promise yourself a fitting reward. Your perseverance will get you noticed—and a chocolate chip ice cream cone with sprinkles is pretty yummy too!
Look for Part 2—Positive Self-Talk
