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Who doesn鈥檛 want to walk into their day with a sense of purpose and excitement? In this month鈥檚 column I examine motivation and inspiration 鈥� and their role in creating sustainable energy for our work. And by sustainable, I mean honoring the fact that energy is an ebb-and-flow experience with moments of high performance and of rest and recharge.

Ironically, as I sat down to write this month鈥檚 missive, I thought I was going to focus on our relationship to stress, but it wasn鈥檛 motivating me. So, I shifted gears. By paying attention to our energy around the task at hand, we can make choices that are better aligned with what we need. In this case, I decided to write about something I wanted to explore further, thereby feeding my joy of curiosity.

Knowing what brings meaning to our work is powerful context for showing up each day. Meaning can be derived from any number of sources, such as our mission, making a contribution, building community, cultivating potential, rising to the challenge, or creative self-expression. When we structure a goal within what brings us meaning, we are on a path to creating a clear and compelling motivational framework from which to operate. 鈥淗ow you show up determines what shows up for you,鈥� says author and speaker Dixie Gillaspie.

Motivation is 鈥渢he reason one has for behaving in a particular way; the general desire or willingness to do something.鈥� It is a process that informs and directs us. Knowing what motivates us is key to creating a workday that is fulfilling, and it is one of the pillars of emotional intelligence. Intrinsically motivated people tend to more readily find themselves immersed in an activity that achieves that desired state of flow. Other defining traits of motivation include:

• a personal drive to improve and achieve
• commitment to goals
• initiative/readiness to act on opportunities
• optimism
• resilience

Know what motivates you

When we deeply understand what matters to us, why we do what we do and what drives us, we can make decisions that align with that wisdom. I recognize that I am motivated by challenge, being of service, doing good work, a sense of accomplishment, learning what makes people tick, and solving problems. When I look at my work through those lenses, I feel more compelled to act. There is an optimism and sense of agency that comes from feeding my motivation.

Even when we understand our motivators, sometimes we need a little nudge. In comes inspiration.

Inspiration is 鈥渢he process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially something creative.鈥�

I often tell my clients, 鈥淟eaders inspire excellence and managers get stuff done.鈥� Of course, we are called to perform in both roles 鈥� sometimes simultaneously. But how are leaders supposed to inspire excellence? A good place to start is with a clear vision that rings true to you and to your team. How are you inviting them to contribute to something great and to explore possibilities? Another place to inspire is by acknowledging and appreciating good work. How are you sharing in the celebration of accomplishments and learning? What do you want them to feel and do to be part of an amazing team and organization? Light a fire of inspiration and you will ignite creative, collaborative energy!

Finding inspiration is not about waiting for it to strike, but creating the conditions in which you can tap into it. I find inspiration in novelty 鈥� discovering new places or ideas, geeking out listening to a podcast, or while engaging in worthy collaborations and fostering connections; or on road trips, in the mountains, and by saying yes to spontaneous opportunities.

What makes a good day for you?

Some days are easier than others. Author and 鈥榦ptimistic instructor鈥� Ian Sanders is on a mission to get people firing on all cylinders about their work. His book, 鈥�365 Ways to Have a Good Day,鈥� has been touted as an antidote to apathy. In it Sanders speaks of productivity, creativity, and well-being as essential elements of a good day.

Stress and motivation

(It appears I am writing about stress after all. See how motivation can get us to do hard stuff?!) Stressors are real, and yet how we relate to them shapes our experience. We can amplify the anxiety and worry, or practice reframing it for a more workable position.

Our levels of stress play a critical role in our capacity to feel motivated. If stressors are too low, we may languish, losing our momentum and motivation. Sluggishly moving through a never-ending to-do list rarely generates innovation! On the other side of the continuum, when stressors are too intense and prolonged, we may suffer from burnout. As my clients have attested, running frantically through back-to-back meetings does little for stoking the professional mojo 鈥� or for producing consistently quality work for that matter!

Good stress can produce positive activity. A deadline can instill a healthy sense of urgency to keep an initiative moving forward. The stress of limited resources can put a constraint that fosters creativity and efficiency. If we can consistently connect to the right kind and amount of stress as a way of fueling our motivation, we strengthen our resiliency.

I recommend starting with clarifying what motivates and inspires you. Then shut off distractions, make space in your day for what stimulates your energy and creativity, and bring a bias for action. Behavior is the highest form of communication. As you deepen your understanding of these influences, you may find it illuminates your very identity and challenges self-limiting beliefs. Equipped with the knowledge of your personal motivators, you can bring meaning and enthusiasm for your work. No doubt it will inspire you and those around you to generate new, productive energy in your workplace!

Karen Natzel is a business therapist who helps leaders create healthy, vibrant and high-performing organizations. Contact her at 503-806-4361 or [email protected].

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in the preceding commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Daily Journal of Commerce or its editors. Neither the author nor the 91视频 guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.