Remember Why You Started
Let’s face it we all get stuck from time to time.
Let’s face it we all get stuck from time to time. One of the reasons I became a coach was because I enjoy helping people work to through their challenges and become more focussed, self-aware and productive individuals.
My professional coaching work often involves working with clients to clarify their motivation to change, create breakthroughs in their thinking and take steps to move forward. There are a number of useful questions and techniques I use to support this process – here are a few you can try on yourself.
What is my motivation?
If you have a goal you are struggling with, take a step back and clarify why it’s important to you. Does the goal inspire you? What will change as a result of you achieving your goal, and what will change if you don’t achieve it? Some people are more motivated by the consequences of not achieving a goal, rather than focussing on the benefits – which are you? Sometimes you need to dig pretty deep to uncover your true “why”, but the simple process of reminding yourself is often very motivating in itself.
What reduces my motivation?
Gaining awareness of what slows down your motivation can provide clarity about what you need to increase your motivation.
Are there times of the day or week that you feel more motivated or productive than others? Is this in the morning, or evening, or perhaps when out walking? Use these times to your advantage as they can often help you shift gears, and think or act differently.
What is likely to get in the way?
Whilst we would all love to believe everything in life will line up perfectly, it’s important to be realistic and prepare for the unexpected. Take some time to think about potential barriers and how you will handle them if they do appear.
This is much broader than considering obvious limiting factors such as time and money - you also needs to include and focus on your own thoughts, beliefs and behaviours which are just as likely to hijack your motivation and goals.
How can I overcome those obstacles?
Now that you have more clarity on the challenges and barriers you may face, you can make a plan to overcome them. This may include breaking up a large goal into many smaller more digestible steps, creating new habits and identifying who can support you along the way.
Who do you have in your life that could support you? There are often a surprising number of people hiding in plain sight, willing and able to offer advice and resources or simply help you maintain enthusiasm and motivation.
Consider whether working with a qualified coach would benefit you in maintaining perspective and focus on this plan.
Can I look at this another way?
Sometimes it can be helpful to look at your motivations and goals with a different lens. How will achieving your goal change other people’s lives? What will be the impact on your significant other/family/friends?
For example if your goal is to retrain for a new role or get a promotion, are there skills and experiences you will gain along the way that will benefit others? Sometimes taking the focus off “you” can help you feel more committed to your goals.
If you would like to know more, or work with me as a coach, please get in touch
