Using Motivators Part 4 – Avoiding Consequences
Posted on August 25, 2016 by Judy Lair, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
Avoiding negative consequences can be a powerful motivator! Running through a pros & cons list can spur you to action now.
Motivators can be powerful tools to help you get started and finish strong. In Finding Motivation—Part 1 I talked about external Rewards. Part 2 explained the importance of Positive Self-Talk. Part 3 looked at the concept of Earning a Wage as motivation to complete tasks. In this final segment we’ll talk about Avoiding Consequences as a motivator.
While parents generally start teaching the “wage” lesson in middle school, children begin learning the power of avoiding consequences as preschoolers. You can watch a 4 year old get disciplined for grabbing a toy from another child. As they sit in time out, you can see the wheels turning in the child’s head. “How can I get the toy back without getting in trouble again?”
Teens may not care about consequences, but the older you get, the less you want to deal with the hassle of negative consequences. Thus, avoiding conflict, financial penalties, painful relationships, or being yelled at by the boss become huge motivators.
“There’s no way I’m going into that meeting unprepared. If she calls on me I don’t want to look stupid.”
“I hate getting up early but if I’m late to work one more time, I’m going to get fired.”
While avoiding consequences may not be the healthiest of all the motivators, it certainly can get people moving. It can be a self-care tool and a reminder to spend your time and money more wisely. Tell yourself exactly what will happen if you fail to start or complete critical assignments and tasks, then get to work!
I hope you started to make a list of your specific motivators. They can inspire and push you to start what needs to be done and get you across the finish line. Knowing how to motivate yourself well brings confidence and success at home and at work.
