How to motivate yourself: 5 sets, time-tested

What is the motivation? If just this urge to action. Unfortunately, no one has yet found for a man clearly better motivation, one that could inspire action each.

From the point of view of science motivation interested in the 50-ies of the last century, in the era of post-industrial society. Then all the classic motivation theories were formulated. Their goal was to encourage the person to work effectively.

Today, the idea of ​​those years began to be used not only in the enterprise but also for private purposes. I want to talk about these classical theories and how they can help you in everyday life.

So how do scientists explain our motivation?

Motivation - is the need, and all they are the same

The oldest and well-known motivation theory is the theory of Maslow's needs. American psychologist and humanist began with that identified five groups of needs that every person:

1. Physiological needs.
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2. the need for security.
3. The need for socialization.
4. Need for respect.
5. The need for self-expression.

Maslow said that the motivation of the person subject to the satisfaction of these needs (and in strict order). In other words, as long as you do not feel completely safe communication will be interesting to you. Or until you have been successful in dealing with people, you will not require them respect.

This theory has a number of drawbacks. For example, Maslow argued that the desire to move to the higher needs - self-expression - there is absolutely all. That is, once you can not just stop at the level of socialization and enjoy what you have. You will want to creativity and fame.
Agree, the idea that everyone wants to continually evolve, it sounds utopian (not for nothing that Maslow was the founder of humanistic psychology). Nevertheless, many scientists have developed this theory by changing the pyramid of needs and clarify details.

For example, a psychologist Clayton Alderfer has created his theory of needs, adding two important features. Firstly, he united all the needs into three groups:

1. Needs of existence.
2. Communication needs.
3. growth needs.

Second, Alderfer first to say that we do not move on to more complex needs, if their achievement is too difficult. I think it's more like our real attitude towards the goals.

How to use it?

If you have a goal, you should:

• determine to which category it belongs needs;
• to meet the needs in all the previous stages.

If Maslow was right, this way you will achieve success.

Motivation - is the need, and all of them are different

American psychologist David McClelland developed the theory of Maslow's different. First, he agreed that all the requirements laid down in us from birth, but we cater them in a different order. Life experience teaches us what needs are important and which can overshadow. Therefore, one important relationship, The other - the glory, and the third - the security and privacy.

Second, the needs that can guide human actions, in McClelland's theory of all three:

1. Needs to achieve - the desire to be independent and to take responsibility for their choices.
2. Requirements complicity - the desire to be loved or to be part of the group.
3. The need for power - a desire to influence the people around them.

McClelland's theory is closer to modern man, because it takes into account the diversity of the life experience of each of us.

How to use it?

Unlike Maslow's theory, there will have to spend time on introspection. To begin to determine which of the three you are guided by the needs of most.

For example, you exercise because you want to get over it some kind of reward (to achieve)? Or is it because your environment all sports (participation)? Or do you want to prove their strength and become more attractive (power)?

After that, for the development of new habits or, on the contrary, to get rid of old, you should be guided by this need.

For example, you want to quit smoking. According to McClelland have three options:

1. Create for yourself attractive reward for maintaining a healthy lifestyle (achievement).
2. Find people with similar experiences and ask their advice or throw a bad habit with someone (complicity).
3. To turn everything into an argument to prove their strength of will (power).

Decide which approach is most attractive to you, and act.

Motivation - is waiting

Canadian Victor Vroom psychologist agreed that people have similar needs, but argued that they satisfy them in different ways. Someone decides to lose weight with exercise bike, and someone buys a "miraculous" pills. To get rich, someone will work hard, and someone will try to play at the stakes. From what then choice of method depends on? From expectations!

By Vroom theory our motivation for action depends on:

• expectation that the result is achievable ( "Can I get up from the couch?");
• We are waiting for the result that we will get a reward ( "I'll get a sandwich, if you get up off the couch?");
• expectation that the reward will be a valuable ( "Do I need this sandwich?").

If the answer to all three questions is yes, people will act.

Theory Vroom popular so far, because it allows convenient criteria: The goal should be achievable and to ensure the result to be really valuable to us.

How to use it?

Select the goal you want to achieve and assess its Vroom criteria.

1. Are you sure you will be able to achieve the goal? You have thought how to do it? You know, what are the problems and difficulties were encountered in the process?
2. You are confident that these efforts will lead to the result? As you can imagine this prove?
3. The result is that you can get really valuable to you? Will it be valuable in the future? In a year? Five years?

Detailed answers to these questions will form the basis of your motivation to achieve the goal. Or prove that this goal you do not need.

Motivation - is the environment

My favorite theory of motivation. Social psychologist Frederick Herzberg received approval Maslow that each person has innate needs and approval McClelland that the importance of these requirements is determined by personal experiences person. Question asked by Herzberg, was this: why a lot of people understand their needs, but do not want achieve goals?

Frederick Herzberg argued that it is possible to know the specific needs of people, but still effectively motivate them, if there is no suitable environment for this. What forms this environment, he called "hygiene factors". In the corporate motivation, he carried her to these factors:

• working conditions;
• relationship with the team;
• wages;
• the administrative policy of the company.

If we talk about everyday purposes, it is important to remain only two factors: the purpose of the working conditions of the people who surround us.

Our environment is constantly sending signals to us that we should adhere to certain habits or, on the contrary, refused it. In other words, quit smoking more difficult with people who smoke like a chimney, and begin exercising easier, surrounded by athletes.

How to use it?

If you know exactly what you want, create an environment that will help you achieve your desired. Answer the two sets of questions:

1. That will always remind me of the goal? That in my environment prevents its achievement? How can I fix this?
2. Who can help me to achieve the desired? I need the support team? Coach, mentor, counselor? As the surrounding people affect my results?

The environment shows how we are able to show their potential. If you work with this environment, improve it, and will reveal our capabilities.

Motivation - is fun

Not so much a complete theory as a synthesis of ideas and psychology philosophy. Unofficially, this theory is called hedonistic, and the greatest influence on her had a psychiatrist Carl Jung.

Jung simple scheme outlined: our behavior determined emotion which follows action. If an action brings us pleasure, we repeat it, if not, throw.

In fact, the hedonic theory of motivation can be contrasted with the theory of expectations. Vroom proposes to create the expectation that action will bring a positive result, and check them out. Jung also simplifies everything: not build is expected to test in practice. And if you enjoy the process continues.

Like sports? Engage! Ceased to like the job? Select another!

I agree, sounds a little infantile, but ultimately the person devotes their time just what he likes, and is surrounded by people that bring him joy. It seems to me to be happy is enough.

How to use it?

Check all your desires into practice and see if they bring pleasure. If you want to learn to play guitar, but it turns out that the strum the strings or the study of chords bring only suffering, grasp something else.

At first, it will be like throwing from one to another, but in the end you stop for that will bring long-term satisfaction.

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So far no one has given a universal answer as to how we can motivate yourself. I brought popular theories that have been tested by time and in different forms are used in management, sports and psychology.
All you have left - check them out in practice and understand which is right for you.