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Secrets of motivation at work

Do you think everyone is motivated? The answer to this existential question that most HR and interpersonal skills experts are passionate about is often “No”!

Are they wrong?

In fact, everyone is motivated, but the real question remains: What motivates them?

In order to get to the bottom of this, let’s take a look at motivation and its essential components.

Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic

Intrinsic motivation is the one that comes from within and wakes you up in the morning and keeps you going every day. It is essentially your reason for being. It is your internal stimulator. In your professional life, it is what you feel when you are fulfilled by completing a task or project.

It is the first ingredient of intrinsic motivation!

In truth, it is not what you do that is important, but why you do it.

To illustrate, let’s take the story of a man who was sweeping up at a biological research centre during the health crisis. He said, when asked what he was doing, “I’m helping to save humanity!” This is a wonderful example of how people are motivated to achieve a common goal that goes far beyond the simple task they have been assigned.

The second magic ingredient is pleasure

When you have fun, you enter a kind of motivational nirvana.

Time stands still, and this ecstatic state makes you perform better and feel more fulfilled in what you are doing.

Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is driven by external elements such as rewards – in the form of a grade, a salary or something else…

Most people are motivated by external factors when it comes to work; paying the bills is the top priority!

Unfortunately the motivation generated by rewards is by nature short-lived.

The other ingredient of extrinsic motivation that will have a short-lived effect is ego. Ego can cause you to do tasks reluctantly.

If you put ego and reward together, you are likely to get the ideal conditions for burnout.

On the other hand, if you combine meaning and pleasure, you will enter a zone of over-performance.

You will find it easier to reach for the stars!

Let’s try this exercise together: imagine your dream job and the six things that would make you happy

Are you finished? Let me guess!

You probably put a pinch of money, a bit of ego with a big spoonful of creativity. All of which is coated with flexibility, a sense of accomplishment and fun galore!

This recipe is well known at Menaps and every point is taken seriously and followed up. Would you like an example?

The HR team is very sensitive to the well-being of the people of Menaps and contacts one employee per week to check on them and to see if they are as motivated and fulfilled in their work as they were on the first day.

In conclusion, I know for a fact that most people have no idea what really motivates them.

Oh, and don’t forget that a good dose of self-awareness accompanied by a serene moment with oneself is the magic recipe for discovering oneself and glimpsing one’s true motivations, whether they are personal or professional.

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