Tips for Balancing Intrinsic Motivation and Performance Goals

Play the game and let go of the outcome.   Don’t let your entire self-worth be attached to your success, yet remain passionately driven to achieve successful outcomes. How: First, recognize that these are not conflicting mindsets but two essential counterbalances. Learn to strive for and appreciate milestones in life's ongoing journey without attaching the outcomes to your self-worth. Treat your pursuits as a “game.”  Doing this right adds a layer of joy and creativity to your efforts. Here is an immediate performance enchanting mindset: When you take on serious goals based on what you deeply value, add the element of “play.” This nuanced way of thinking will elevate your performance immediately.  Counterintuitively, the higher the stakes, the more you must detach from the outcome.  Doing this will free you up to focus on the present moment needs. You show up with a lightness that allows you to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously improve without the pressure of being solely identified by your achievements. Focusing on the process and the joy of playing the game can cultivate resilience and a balanced perspective. This approach not only leads to a more fulfilling and dynamic approach to personal and professional growth but also instills a sense of confidence and reassurance in your journey.

Here's what I've found,   #EngineeringManagers love #PersonalDevelopment only when it's something related to their career they can apply now and see a result now.   New tools. Time management systems. Networking scripts.   They want to understand Y=f(x) and point to the result, and like old me, they are too busy to waste time on fluffy stuff.    Monster mistake.   It makes sense and feels completely rational, but it's a monster mistake to leave out the "fluffy stuff" in personal development (or woo-woo or mindset or whatever bucket you throw all that mumbo jumbo into),   ...because the more one-dimensional you become in your left brain and IQ as your only strength, the faster that strength becomes your biggest weakness.   You'll fall into the stereotype of a brilliant engineer who lacks EQ.   Or worse, you'll fall into the trap of building a career that looks successful on paper but you are not enjoying it.   And the truth is, the real reason we all want new skills and career growth is not for the title or the paycheck or the size of your new team.   The real reason is what those things bring into your life experience, your lifestyle.   To be happy.   To feel significant and make a difference.   To know you are growing and reaching your full potential.   So, instead of thinking about mindset and EQ coaching as fluffy, think of a V-8 internal combustion engine.   The engine is your mind.   That's what you use to create results in your career, so it's important.   IQ and frameworks and tools are four cylinders on one side. If you only improve power, only apply oil and change the plugs on that side, your engine is OUT OF BALANCE.   EQ and energy and feeling are on the other side... rusted out with busted headers and dead spark plugs. We need to tap into our emotion and energy as part of our personal growth.   * And the most important feeling you can tap into is GRATITUDE.   When you practice gratitude, you move up the Emotional Frequence Scale (I cover this in my free in-depth training, let me know if you want a copy).   You move out of fight or flight mode and into your most resourceful state.   And your tangible work results will improve because you have more energy!   So my challenge to you is to implement one of the three practices we cover in Gratitude Engineering: 1) Start a Gratitude journal 2) Go for a Gratitude walk 3) Throw a Gratitude grenade (this is my favorite one, for sure)   Quick story.   An engineering manager was struggling with negative self talk, feeling disengaged at work, and exhausted every night after work even if the hours were reasonable.   We implemented the gratitude practices above.   First week, nothing.   But after just two weeks, he shared in our private group that it changed his entire day, then his whole week, and the positive breakthrough hasn't stopped.   The catalyst to his transformation? #Gratitude. Have you ever experienced something similar? 👇 *********** ♻️ Repost if you found this useful

It would be remiss of us to attempt to optimize motivation without also examining the belief system that feeds the decisions, choices and actions we make on a daily basis. #lessonoftheday The myth is that motivation is a “feeling”, the fact is that motivation is a decision, or reason why. However many of us experience anxiety to some degree that affects our ability to make decisions. We get trapped in indecision and make no decision at all… The key is to dissect the underlying mechanism of the motivation… “the motivation for the motivation”. For example if I have a belief system that aims to protect and preserve my well being, then I would be less likely to take the risk associated with reaching my goals, or even setting goals in the first place. This disparity leads us to believe we are unmotivated when in actuality we are misaligned. Our belief system does not align with our goals. So we will always be swimming upstream or feeling stuck. How do we overcome? Reframe. Retrain. Repeat. 1) Reframe: what is my belief now? What do I want to believe? For example, “threat of loss is twice as scary as any gain”. Flip it to believe that “even loss can be gain because my focus is growth not outcome.” 2) Retrain: monitor self talk, and implement phrases that support new operating system. Challenge old thought patterns with new ones that feel counterintuitive, but will lead to productive change. 3) Repetition: no change happens overnight, more than likely the belief system occurred out of an adaptation to a perceived negative experience. So it takes time and reps to change any pathway and form new pathways. Be patient and don’t expect sudden changes. Granted these methods are fluid, taking into account personality, environment and trait or state anxiety factors is also essential…. It is ideal to work with a professional for best results! #motivation #mindset #performancepsychology #optimization #corebeliefs #mentalhealth #motivationmindset

I’m a runner. Most runners enjoy exerting mastery over mind and body. It’s an intrinsic motivation. No one forces us to get up early and go out in the dark and cold to do something hard, lonely, and repetitive. We’re not trying to impress anybody at the beach with our skinny arms and low heart rate. Runners like to test how far we can push ourselves. That’s mastery. Or is it? I can’t emphasize this caveat enough: there is nothing wrong with wanting to win! Let’s be realistic: competition is a fantastic motivator. Like everyone else, runners have some ego-driven motivation. My fastest runs have been during races. It’s exciting to push against other runners and get our time published on the website…for everyone to see. Your psyche combines a drive towards mastery and a desire to win. No one is asking you to give up your desire to win. However, when you struggle with motivation, ask yourself whether your ego is too involved. If so, re-direct your goals towards mastery. Here’s paradoxical advice: don’t focus so much on winning, such that in the long run, you’ll win. #selfimprovement #leadership #psychology Photo by Lucas Favre on Unsplash

We've been trained to believe that the key to productivity is rewards and punishments. But here's the truth: 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬. Intrinsic motivation, the drive that comes from within, is what truly fuels us. It's the passion for a task, the love for a project, the sense of accomplishment when we solve a problem. Extrinsic motivators, such as bonuses and promotions, are temporary. They may produce short-term results, but they rarely lead to long-term commitment. On the other hand, intrinsic motivators, like the joy of learning or the satisfaction of a job well done, are enduring. They keep us engaged, even when the going gets tough. So, how do we tap into this powerful source of motivation? Firstly, understand what drives your people internally. Is it the thrill of solving complex problems? The satisfaction of helping others? Or the excitement of learning something new? Once you've identified these intrinsic motivators, foster an environment that supports them. Craft your team's roles and metrics around what truly drives them. Secondly, reevaluate your rewards system. Rather than relying on external rewards, acknowledge the efforts of your team based on what they care about. Show them that the work they are most passionate about is valued and appreciated, not just with a bonus, but with words of affirmation and opportunities for growth in that specific area. Lastly, lead by example. Show your team that you're driven not just by external rewards, but by passion, curiosity, and a love for what you do. This approach helps you channel your team's strengths, encourages out-of-the-box thinking, and promotes long-term retention. p.s. Understanding intrinsic motivation is helpful in any situation where you interact with another human 👫

80% of workers feel stressed at work. Staying calm and focused even when deadlines loom and projects go sideways is very important. That's the power of the Bhagavad Gita's wisdom, especially verse 57 of Chapter 2. It offers a secret weapon for the modern professional: a steady mind. Verse 57 of Chapter 2 in the Bhagavad Gita reads: य: सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् । नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ This translates to: He who has no attachment to anything anywhere, who does not rejoice and hate when good and bad things happen, his wisdom is fixed and steady. Applying this Shloka in the Professional World: The verse describes a person with "sthita prajna" - a steady mind. This doesn't mean becoming indifferent to your work. It's about cultivating a sense of detachment from outcomes. Let's see how this translates to your professional life: 🟪 Emotional Detachment, Not Disengagement Don't confuse detachment with disengagement. You should strive for excellence in your work. However, your self-worth shouldn't hinge on external validation. A promotion or a bad review shouldn't define you. 🟪 Focus on the Journey Find satisfaction in the quality of the work you do, the challenges you overcome, and the skills you develop. This intrinsic motivation will fuel consistent performance, regardless of external rewards. 🟪 Maintaining Composure Under Pressure Remaining calm amidst challenges is key in today's work environment. Accepting that setbacks are inevitable helps you respond with reason and focus on solutions instead of getting overwhelmed. 🟪 Resilience in the Face of Failure Everyone faces setbacks. The Shloka teaches you to view them as learning opportunities. Analyze what went wrong, adapt your approach, and move forward with a clear head. Don't let failures define your future potential. Remember, → Achieving a perfectly balanced mind is a continuous process. → Be patient with yourself. → This doesn't mean becoming passive. → Pursue your goals with dedication, but don't become overly attached to a specific outcome. This will lead to greater professional success and overall well-being. Follow Atul Kumar for Geeta Bites series, Every Monday at 09:30 AM.

“Regardless of what the scoreboard says, how did you really perform?" "Did you perform to the best of your ability?" "What we try to get our players to do is play to a standard to be the best version of themselves." This Nick Saban clip is a must listen for every leader. – Performing to an internal standard is a powerful mindset shift if you can internalize it. My takeaways: 1. There are two scoreboards in life – the external and the internal. The external fuels your ego, but the internal fuels your improvement (and ultimately your success). 2. The world celebrates outcomes while paying almost no respect to the quiet daily effort required to achieve them. 3. In an outcome-obsessed world, process-focused people win. 4. Inputs > outputs. Focus on your daily actions, not what you hope they produce. 5. Do number 4 consistently, and you’ll give yourself the best chance to achieve the output (funny how that works). 6. “Winning” and “being your best” are very different things. 7. Playing for external validation will get you somewhere. Playing for internal satisfaction will get you further. 8. Your internal standard is a reflection of who you are. Outcomes should have no impact on you living up to it. 9. Most people spend their time chasing external goals they don’t even realize they don’t control. It takes humility to focus on the process and live with the results. 10. When your ultimate goal is to maximize your potential, there’s no finish line. And when you have no finish line, you outlast everyone else. ||| Hope this is helpful. If it was, share it with others. Thanks for reading.